Thailand Live Thursday 8 Mar 2012

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Phuket Police to start patrols with the 'All Blacks'

Phuket Gazette

The new ‘black on black’ interceptors will be used for patrols across Phuket. Photo: Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai

PHUKET: -- Phuket Police will soon be patrolling the streets of Phuket in brand-new all black Mazda2 cars.

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Red-Shirts Protest Against News Anchor For Not Being Politically Neutral

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party questioned a group of red-shirts submitting a complaint letter against a news anchor for not being neutral in commenting on political issues.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intharakomansut talked about a group of red-shirts submitting a complaint letter against news anchor Kanok Ratwongsakul for not being neutral in commenting on political issues.

Chawanon said that it is typical that when the current government realized that their management is starting to fail, red-shirt groups will be called in to protest against the press.

However, it was surprised that one of the red-shirts is Jiraparn Srinean, the host of “Social Gossip” Program of the Asia Update cable.

Regarding to red-shirts' argument, which pointed out that news anchors who wish to comment on the government should not work for free television programs, Chavanond disagreed with that idea and said that the press must provide facts to people wherever they work for.

During the conference, Chawanon presented photos of Jiraparn and former fugitive prime minter Thaksin Shinawatra and said that Jiraparn has a tied relationship with Thaksin, and that he is a victim of Thaksin, and does not work for his own ideology.

Chawanon further said that a submission of the red-shirts' letter was just to create pressure to the press.

He urged the government to stop putting pressure on the press, as there is a number of residents who disagreed with the red-shirts and are willing to protest against their actions.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-08

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C7 civil servant charged with slapping an airport security official

Credit: DailyNews.co.th

BANGKOK: -- The high-ranking civil servant, who made headlines several months ago when a VDO clip of him slapping an airport security official went viral, has been slapped with a disciplinary violation charge. He has been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition that impairs emotional control.

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Filipino Gang Caught in Bangkok Trying to Steal 20-karat Diamond

BANGKOK: -- The Pathumwan Police have arrested a 6-member Filipino gang who were caught at a popular high-end Bangkok department store trying to steal a 20-karat diamond. The diamond is estimated to be worth more than 2 million baht.

[still-shot from CCTV footage at Thong Bai gold shop in Chinatown]

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Four killed on Songkhla pickup as strong forest runoff, caused by heavy rain, sweeps vehicle into canal /MCOT

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State of emergency for far South likely to be extended: Yuthasak

BANGKOK, March 8 - Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa conceded on Thursday that the latest bombing in the southern border region which left four soldiers dead may prompt the cabinet to extend the emergency decree due to worsening violence.

Gen Yuthasak commented following the detonation of a roadside bomb in Narathiwat's Rue So district which killed four soldiers last night. One member of the 12-man unit was severely wounded.

Speaking hours before a security meeting considers the possible extension of the state of emergency now in place for another three months, Gen Yuthasak described the incident as extreme violence and said he personally believed that an extension was necessary in light of such a deadly incident.

The deputy premier, who is in charge of overseeing national security matters, said that a military lapse was partly to blame.

Rather than repeating their usual routes, the general said, “soldiers on patrol should adjust their routes and timing quite often to avoid being targeted by insurgents in risky areas such as bridges and intersections."

To speed up policy implementation based on government strategies and performance evaluation, Gen Yutthasak said he would visit the region next week with army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha to see for himself any progress on policy implementation and integration among concerned agencies.

An executive decree on administrative rule in emergency situations was introduced in mid-2005 to maintain order in the restive provinces and has been extended regularly ever since.

More than 5,000 people have died since insurgency-related violence resumed in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla province in 2004, with attacks becoming more complicated and more violent. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-08

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SET closed up by 9.99 points at 1,163.15 with value of Bt16.08 bn at midday Thursday break /TANN

Court commutes 6-month jail term to 3 months for twins who assaulted Nitirat group leader /TANN

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Registration for compensation for those impacted by political violence begins at Baan Ratchavithee; victims, relatives eligible for payments crowd registration venue /MCOT

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Chiang Mai launches campaign to reduce haze pollution

CHIANG MAI, 8 March 2012 (NNT) – Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Worawat Auapinyakul has joined hands with Chiang Mai Governor M.L. Panadda Diskul in a walk rally campaign, which aims to eradicate forest burning within one week.

At the Tha Pae Gate Plaza in Chiang Mai province, Mr. Worawat, M.L. Panadda, government officials, students, village health volunteers and thousands of local residents yesterday voluntarily participated in a walk rally activity under the No Burn campaign, of which the objective is to resolve the haze situation in the Northern provinces. The campaign is part of the urgent short-term solutions to the haze problem as well as a measure to revive victims of the haze pollution in the Northern region of Thailand.

Accoding to Mr.Worawat, all relevant parties have been called in for a meeting to implement a speedy solution to stop all forest burning activities within one week. The No Burn campaign will be promoted throughout the ์orthern provinces and will end in Chiang Rai on March 10. The campaign aims to transform the 8 Northern provinces into a No Burn zone to prevent the current haze pollution from worsening and recurring. At the same time, he has also instructed all provincial authorities to strictly enforce the law and report all progress to the Prime Minister on a daily basis. Additionally, satellite surveillance will also be carried out twice a day to monitor the haze situation.

-- NNT 2012-03-08

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BMA to promote tourism at ITB Berlin

BANGKOK, 8 March 2012 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is set to build confidence among tourists and tourism operators with a promotional campaign to draw more tourists back to the capital.

BMA deputy governor Thaya Theepsuwan has officially opened the BMA's booth at the world’s leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin, in Germany. The BMA is promoting tourism under the theme of Bangkok Smile, while also establishing confidence in Bangkok's safety situation and the BMA’s willingness to cooperate with the government in resolving the flood problem.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Surapol Svetserani stated that Bangkok is an important tourism destination and also a transit route for those who wish to travel onto other destinations. Therefore, plans and campaigns will be held in collaboration with the BMA to attract tourists and investors to extend their stay in Bangkok. In order to promote tourism in the Thai capital, tourists must feel confident of the city's infrastructure improvement plans and be aware of the hospitality and culinary delights it has to offer.

-- NNT 2012-03-08

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Thailand, Japan emphasise importance of economic partnership

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/539037-unbeatable-thailand-unparalleled-opportunities/page__view__findpost__p__5117693

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Four troops killed, another injured in Narathiwat bomb attack

Narathiwat - Four troops were killed and another severely injured when insurgents detonated a roadside bomb to ambush a unit providing security for Buddhists in Narathiwat late Wednesday night.

The unit was returning home after providing security to Buddhist devotees and monks at a temple in the evening of Maka puja Day when the explosion occurred at 10:40 pm.

The explosion occurred on a road along the railway in Yaba village in Tambon Rusoh in Rusoh district.

Police said insurgents detonated the homemade bomb with a wired control. Police said a wire, which was over 100-metre-long, was found at the scene.

Sgt Dejpol Lowannee, the chief of the patrol unit, Cpl Sompong Taesanan, Pvt Kamol Panthong, and Pvt Suwat Nilpak were killed. Pvt Suriya Jachalee was severely injured and rushed to the Rusoh Hospital.

-- The Nation 2012-03-08

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WEALTH

Record 1,226 billionaires make World's Richest People list

The Nation

The world is reeling from global uncertainties but the number of billionaires worldwide has hit a new record high, according to Forbes Magazine.

In the 25th anniversary of ranking, the magazine found that a number of 1,226 billionaires make the 2012 list of the World’s Richest People.

Five billionaires from Thailand are enlisted - Dhanin Chearavanont and family (No. 133) with the net worth of US$7 billion; Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi (No. 184, $5.5 billion); Chaleo Yoovidhya (No. 205, $5 billion); Aloke Lohia (No. 683, $1.9 billion); and Krit Ratanarak (No. 1015, $1.2 billion).

For the third year in a row, Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico, chairman of telecom firm Fundacion Telmex, is named the richest man in the world with family’s net worth of US$69 billion.

Bill Gates retains the No. 2 spot with a net worth of $61 billion, followed by Warren Buffett with a net worth of $44 billion and Europe's richest person, Bernard Arnault with $41 billion. Amancio Ortega of Spain joins the Top 5 for the first time, with a net worth of $37.5 billion, an increase in fortune of $6.5 billion from 2011.

According to Forbes, in a year of churn and burn, 128 billionaires are new to the list (compared with 214 newcomers in 2011), while 117 dropped off. A record 1,226 billionaires (up from 1,210 in 2011) made the list, with an average net worth of $3.7 billion (unchanged from 2011). Added together, the total net worth for this year's billionaires is $4.6 trillion, up $100 billion from $4.5 trillion last year.

Billionaires came from 58 countries, including new addition Morocco, which had three people make it this year. The US leads the list, with 425 billionaires, followed by Asia-Pacific (315), Europe (310), The Americas (90) and the Middle East & Africa (86). At 41, Spanx founder and newcomer Sara Blakely (No. 1,153) is the youngest self-made woman in the billionaires club, with a net worth of $1 billion. A total 104 women made the list. Christy Walton (No. 11) is still the richest woman in the world - for the seventh year in a row - with a net worth of $25.3 billion. Other notable newcomers: Under Armour CEO/Founder Kevin Plank (No. 1075), and Michael Kors' financial backers Silas Chou (No. 634) and Lawrence Stroll (No. 719).

Notable drop-offs include J.K. Rowling, Australian Gerald Harvey (Harvey Norman discount retail stores), Jim Balsillie (Research in Motion, maker of BlackBerry) and Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who passed away in October 2011.

-- The Nation 2012-03-08

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Quick probe into criminal cases in deep South crucial

The Nation

A transparent and speedy probe into three high-profile criminal cases involving the military in the deep South is crucial to restoring relations with the Muslim locals and minimising the chances of insurgents exploiting them for propaganda against authorities, a Pattani seminar on counter-insurgency was told yesterday.

The most egregious case is the reported rape of a 16-year-old Muslim girl by soldiers attached to an unspecified unit.

A video of the act, filmed by a soldier with a camphone, was distributed throughout Yarang district, said Asis Benhawan, a senior adviser to the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC).

mediation necessary

Due to the sensitivity of the incident, neither news reports nor Asis have given a clear picture of what transpired, whether it was a consensual act or against the girl's will, or was simply a case of statutory rape because of her age.

Asis said that besides disbanding an entire outpost that was the base of the soldiers' unit, mediation was necessary and must be done quickly to compensate her and find her a new school.

The other two cases are progressing through the normal process. One was the recent beating of suspected insurgents while in custody by soldiers in Narathiwat and the other was the fatal shooting of four villagers allegedly by a group of paramilitary rangers in Pattani's Nong Chik district last month.

The SBPAC is taking part in probing the shooting case, relying on extra intelligence resources, he said.

The military needs to continue cementing relations with the local populace to win them over while being strict with discipline and pre-empting actions to prevent such incidents from reoccurring, he said.

Asis was speaking as the chairman of an advisory board comprising 25 members from nine councils representing locals in the three southernmost provinces.

In Narathiwat, a Buddhist temple has only three resident monks because few local Buddhists want to ordain.

They fear for their lives, as monks on morning alms rounds have been frequently attacked by militants with knives.

At Urai Rattanaram Temple in Bacho district, the rite to mark Visakha Bucha Day, by circling the main temple three times was held at noon instead of late evening for safety reasons.

The event, presided over by the three monks, was joined by troops on security detail and 50 Buddhist civilians.

-- The Nation 2012-03-08

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Chiang Mai launches campaign to reduce haze pollution

CHIANG MAI, 8 March 2012 (NNT) – Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Worawat Auapinyakul has joined hands with Chiang Mai Governor M.L. Panadda Diskul in a walk rally campaign, which aims to eradicate forest burning within one week.

At the Tha Pae Gate Plaza in Chiang Mai province, Mr. Worawat, M.L. Panadda, government officials, students, village health volunteers and thousands of local residents yesterday voluntarily participated in a walk rally activity under the No Burn campaign, of which the objective is to resolve the haze situation in the Northern provinces. The campaign is part of the urgent short-term solutions to the haze problem as well as a measure to revive victims of the haze pollution in the Northern region of Thailand.

Accoding to Mr.Worawat, all relevant parties have been called in for a meeting to implement a speedy solution to stop all forest burning activities within one week. The No Burn campaign will be promoted throughout the ์orthern provinces and will end in Chiang Rai on March 10. The campaign aims to transform the 8 Northern provinces into a No Burn zone to prevent the current haze pollution from worsening and recurring. At the same time, he has also instructed all provincial authorities to strictly enforce the law and report all progress to the Prime Minister on a daily basis. Additionally, satellite surveillance will also be carried out twice a day to monitor the haze situation.

-- NNT 2012-03-08

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Court orders operator of no. 207 bus in which an ABAC student fell off in 2004 to pay father compensation of Bt9 mn /TANN

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BMA to Procure Helicopter, New Fire Engine

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will carry out the purchase of a helicopter and fire engine to combat fire in the capital.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukawejchaworakit assigned the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or BMA's Prevention and Mitigation Office to propose a budget to purchase one new fully-equipped fire engine and one helicopter.

She said the BMA is aware that effective fire equipment is essential to save lives.

The deputy governor added that the Prevention and Mitigation Office and 50 district offices will ask owners of buildings constructed before 1992 to install sprinkler systems.

The BMA is contemplating issuing a law to force the installation of fire prevention systems and the removal of flammable construction materials such as window tint and wall insulation.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-08

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Registration for political rally compensation starts today

BANGKOK, 8 March 2012 (NNT) – The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has announced that victims of the political unrest are welcomed to register for the compensation from today onwards.

Those who wish to register for the compensation can do so at the Rajvithi Home for Girls during 08.00-16.00. They are required to bring a copy of their identification card, house registration, family member's death certificate, medical certificate, receipts for medical treatments and documents stating their rights as a beneficiary. As soon as all the evidence has been processed and verified, the government will immediately hand out the compensation money.

The cabinet, on March 6, resolved to approve the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT)’s budget proposal of 2 billion baht to cover compensation payment for 2,369 political victims, 383 among whom were victims of the political chaos in 2008, 134 of the 2009, and 1,852 of the 2010 political unrests.

-- NNT 2012-03-08

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AirAsia plans to list Thai unit in second quarter

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8, 2012 (AFP) - Malaysia-based AirAsia, Asia's biggest budget air carrier, hopes to raise up to $200 million by listing its Thai unit by the second quarter of this year, a company official said Thursday.

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Phichit braces for water season

PHICHIT, 8 March 2012 (NNT) – Phichit province is carrying out the dredging of canals and other water sources to increase monkey cheeks with aims to prevent flooding during the rainy season.

Phichit province is gearing up for the approaching rainy season with plans to dredge a total of 54 water sources. Among this number, 26 sites are areas of over 100 rai each, while the remaining 28 sites are smaller in area. So far, the province has completed the dredging of 8 sites.

The dredging sites include lakes, swamps and canals, which are situated near the two main rivers, the Yom and the Nan. They will serve as a catchment area for the water flowing in from the surrounding areas. Once finished, these water sources will help alleviate the severity of the situation in the rainy season as well as serve as sources of water for consumption and agricultural use during the drought season.

-- NNT 2012-03-08

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Twins in Worachet attack receive three-month jail time

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Dusit Kwang Court on Wednesday found two defendants guilty of assaulting Nitirat leader Worachet Pakeerut last Wednesday, sentencing the two to serve three months jail each.

Suphot Silarat and his twin brother Suphat received an original jail term of six months each before the court cited their guilty plea as grounds for leniency.

Suphot is a repeat offender, having violated the firearms law in 2010 and will therefore consecutively serve a previously suspended jail term of seven months. His combined imprisonment is 10 months.

The defence has applied for temporary release pending the appellate review, posting Bt100,000 bail for the two.

In its verdict, the court said the two had committed a premeditated attack against Worachet at Thammasat University.

Based on their confessions, the two held a grudge because Worachet aired his academic opinions on amending Article 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law.

The attack took place in the parking lot of the Tha Phrachan campus. The victim sustained a nosebleed and injuries to his right cheek bone and forehead.

The court said the two carried out the heinous attack without any respect for the law, therefore there was no cause to suspend the jail term.

The two pummelled Worachet in the face before fleeing on a motorcycle. They gave themselves up to police the following day.

-- The Nation 2012-03-08

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SET index closed at 1168.31, up 15.15; Bt/USD30.49; GBP47.96; AUD32.23; EUR40.06; CAD30.44; HKD3.92; SGD24.14; JPY37.27

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INMATES

Cell phones and narcotics seized in prison raids

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A total of 3,000 cell phones and narcotic substances have been confiscated during recent raids at 142 prisons nationwide.

Corrections Department's deputy chief Kobkiat Kasiwat said Thursday that each raid had turned up at least 20-30 phones.

"If the authorities kept up the policy of impromptu searches, the problem of cell phones or prohibited items smuggled for use behind bars would disappear.

All the raids were conducted during February.

Kobkiat also said he hadn't heard from the Drug Suppression Police about their previously reported request for three drug inmates, allegedly members of a Southern drug ring, for another drug case investigation.

-- The Nation 2012-03-08

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FIRE

Investigation into Fico Place blaze continues

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police on Wednesday continued their investigation into Saturday's fire at the Fico Place building in Soi Sukhumvit 21 and interviewed the tenants in a bid to determine the real cause of fire, which damaged the building's 7 th - 9th floors.

Metropolitan Police deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Anuchai Lekbamrung said the team of investigators was continuing to collect testimonies from company representatives renting space in the 13-storey building.

The police were also waiting for the Scientific Crime Detection Division's test results. Once these were received, police would be able to determine the real cause of fire, whether the result of recklessness or an accident, and have the evidence to arrest a wrongdoer, if applicable

The Fico Place office building was damaged by a three-hour blaze on March 3. Police said the 7 th and the 9 th floors of the building were heavily-damaged.

Bangkok authority said owners of all high-rises in the city are being encouraged to install water sprinklers in their properties, although more than 1,000 of these were constructed before 1992 when a law requiring automatic sprinkler systems took effect.

-- The Nation 2012-03-08

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Deputy PM Chalerm Vows to Bring Thaksin Back Home This Year

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Army Chief Against Autonomus Pattani

BANGKOK: -- The Army chief maintains he does not agree with the designation of Pattani Province as a self-governing zone given the current administrative form is most appropriate.

Privy Councilor General Surayud Chulanont said the establishment of Pattani Province as an autonomous area will have to be considered by security agencies, given he does not have the authority to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said he has discussed the matter with Deputy Prime Minister General Yutthasak Sasiprapa several times and maintained he has never agreed with the proposal.

Prayuth said the present administration is most suitable while the establishment of an autonomous Pattani state should no longer be discussed given the matter is very sensitive. He added local residents there have never asked for their home province to be established as a self-governing area.

Regarding the Constitution amendment, the general said the news presented by some media agencies concerning the matter could provoke a clash between conflicting groups. Prayuth said the general public can judge which parties will benefit or are affected by the amendment.

He urged those in power not to use their majority mandate for their own gain while asking all parties to help rebuild national unity to move the country forward.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-08

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Dokset DNA results: Remains human, skull hit with heavy object

Phuket Gazette

Preliminary forensics tests have confirmed that the decomposing body found at the home of Phuket expat Stein Dokset (main photo) were that of a human female, but have yet to confirm whether the body was of his ex-girlfriend Rungnapa Suktong (inset). Photos: Phuket Gazette

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Thailand seizes tigers, lions in wildlife bust

BANGKOK, March 8, 2012 (AFP) - Thai authorities seized more than 200 live animals, including tigers and lions among other rare species, in a raid on an illegal wildlife supplier on Wednesday, police said.

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UPDATE

Phuket tourist electrocution sparks probe, safety blitz

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: The electrocution of 45-year-old Russian tourist Fedor Samsonov at a high-end Phuket resort last night has prompted an investigation by police and a full-scale safety inspection of the resort’s electrical system.

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Army Chief rejects special administration in Deep South

BANGKOK, 8 March 2012 (NNT) - Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army Gen.Prayuth Chan-ocha has confirmed there is no need for a special administrative zone in the southern border region of Thailand, saying that he believes the majority of the locals disagree with the idea.

Gen.Prayuth on Thursday spoke to the media about the controversial draft act of Pattani Darussalam for the establishment of a special administrative zone in the restive South. He said he had met with Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Gen.Yuthasak Sasiprapa to discuss the matter.

According to Gen.Prayuth, the deputy premier clarified that he only said he would study the draft act but he did not mean that the law would be enforced as the decision would depend on the government.

Gen.Prayuth also said he believed more than 99% of the local people did not want the southern border special administrative zone to be set up. In his capacity as a national security official, the army chief said he personally disagreed with the idea and warned of its sensitivity.

-- NNT 2012-03-08