Thailand Live Tuesday 13 Mar 2012

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Lampang celebrates 'Thai Elephant Day'

LAMPANG, March 13 – Thailand’s elephant lovers are throwing a big party today at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) in this northern province, beginning with a traditional merit-making ceremony to mark Thai Elephant Day, falling on March 13.

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Thailand to hold inquests into protest deaths

BANGKOK, March 13, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand is to hold inquests into the deaths of 16 people killed during a crackdown on "Red Shirt" anti-government protests two years ago, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

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Cabinet Tue resolved to extend emergency decree in 3 southern border provinces by 3 mths, Mar 20-June 19, 2012 /The Nation

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SET index midday flat

BANGKOK: -- Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Tuesday stood at 1,150.09, down 0.09 point, or 0.01 per cent in line with regional shares amid Bt15.52 billion turnover.

The SET50 index was at 807.33, down 0.32 point or 0.04 per cent.

Top five most (active) stocks: BANPU, TRUE, PTTGC, PTT, IVL.

-- The Nation 2012-03-13

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Democrat calls for amnesty review

ฺBANGKOK:-- Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat on Tuesday called for a review of an amnesty proposal to be granted to protesters with non-criminal linkage to political rallies held from 2005 to 2010.

Nipit questioned the research methodology of King Prajadhipok's Institute in spearheading the amnesty as part of the reconciliation process.

"I think the proposal should be reconsidered because it is based on a questionable study," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-13

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Red Shirt leader Arisman, charged with terrorism, reports to court on return from India

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Malaysian arrested for allegedly smuggling in 'ice' drug

The Nation

SONGKHLA: -- A Malaysian was arrested in this southern border province Tuesday while allegedly trying to smuggle in a small bag of crystal methamphetamine, police said.

Kalippan al Kenesen, 30, was arrested at the Sadao border checkpoint when police found the drug on him.

Police alleged that the Malaysian man also tried to bribe the immigration officers by offering Bt300,000 in exchange for his release. He was taken into custody at the Sadao police station.

-- The Nation 2012-03-13

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Cabinet extends emergency decree in southern border region

BANGKOK, March 13 – The Cabinet on Tuesday approved further extension of the emergency decree in the three southern border provinces for another three months.

Formally termed the Executive Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations, the measure first took effect on July 19, 2005 in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala. It was renewed for three months on Oct19, and subsequently every three months.

The emergency decree will be extended from March 20 to May 19 to facilitate the authorities operations in the insurgency-prone areas. The decree extension was proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa following a resolution by last week’s meeting of security agencies.

The Cabinet decision follows a string of violent attacks on soldiers and civilians in the insurgency-torn region. On March 8, four soldiers were killed in a bombing in Narathiwat as they returned from security escort duties for Buddhist worshippers attending a candlelight procession on Makha Bucha day. Later on the same day, two military outposts in the same province were attacked by grenade launchers and firearm. Twelve soldiers were wounded.

More than 5,000 people have been killed in the three Muslim-majority southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani since the insurgency erupted in 2004.

Speaking to reporters before the Cabinet meeting, Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa will travel to the South on Wednesday with Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha to be briefed about the latest situation, and will then give policy guidelines to local officials.

Gen Yutthasak said the authorities are implementing proactive approaches more vigorously than before, and have infiltrated leading insurgency-active villages. He said the authorities now know particular insurgents whose operations are funded by a drug syndicate.

The situation will be reviewed again in three months to decide whether the emergency decree should be revoked or not in any particular districts, he added.

While it was designed to be a softer version of martial law, some see it as harsher and that instead of helping to restore trust between the government and the local ethnic Malay Muslim population, the decree has further eroded it. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-13

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Funeral Bathing Rite Held for Two Policemen Killed in Clash with Drug Gang

CHIANG MAI: -- A full funeral-bathing rite was held for the two policemen killed in a gunfight with a drug gang in Chiang Mai's Fang District on Sunday.

The funeral bathing ceremony for Police Senior Sergeant Major Akhom Kaewmuangma and Police Senior Sergeant Major Nakhon Panjaruang, who were killed in Sunday's clash with a drug gang in Chiang Mai's Fang District, were held with full state honors at Phra Singhworamahaviharn Temple.

The ceremony was presided over by Region 5 Provincial Police Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Suthep Detchraksa and attended by family members, police officers and the public. The bodies of the two officers were covered with national flags.

Police Lieutenant General Suthep said a fund worth 160,000 baht has initially been raised to support the funerals. The two policemen will receive a posthumous promotion to the rank of police lieutenant colonel while their widows and children are entitled to work at the Royal Thai Police.

Meanwhile, the police have issued arrest warrants for two suspects who are believed to be hiding along the border.

The bodies of the two policemen will be transported to their hometowns for further religious activities, after which a joint funeral ceremony will be held at Chedi Ngam Temple in Fang District. The cremation date has yet to be determined.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-13

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Deputy PM Plays Down Drug Problem in South

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said that the drug problem in the southernmost region of the country is not as severe as claimed by some reports. He has also indicated that insurgent groups active in the region are not funded by drug money but from financiers abroad.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung pointed out that the narcotics found in the southernmost provinces were primary smuggled in from the northern and northeastern parts of the country.

However, Chalerm said that the drug epidemic is under control and it is now much more difficult to smuggle narcotics into the area. Furthermore, the deputy prime minister added that the situation is not as severe as claimed by some news reports.

He also dismissed reports that drug money is being used to fund insurgent groups' activities, indicating that the insurgents receive support from financiers abroad.

Moreover, many have claimed that the weapons used by the insurgents were purchased from unidentified ethnic rebel groups in Vietnam and Cambodia with drug money. Chalerm denied such a claim.

The deputy prime minister refused to give further details, saying that he did not want to overstep other officials' responsibilities, and referred the questions on the matter to Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa. Yutthasak is directly tasked with solving the southern violence.

Chalerm also declined to answer reporters' questions regarding the self-draft National Reconciliation decree.

Before he walked away, Chalerm jokingly questioned Sanan Kachornprasart's resolve to retire from politics. Earlier this week Sanan, Chart Thai Pattana Party chief adviser, announced he wanted to retire from politics. The veteran politician said he's disheartened by the current state of politics in Thailand.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-13

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Phuket ready for 'Battle of Thalang' re-enactment tonight

Ampol Sakulchan, Chairman of Thalang Culture Council, poses with Rajabhat students dressed in traditional yaya dresses. Photo: OrBorJor.

PHUKET: -- In the run-up to the highly-anticipated re-enactment of the Battle of Thalang tonight, Phuket students and local leaders yesterday made offerings to a shrine dedicated to Phuket's two heroines: Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisoonthorn.

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POST-FLOOD

Govt to borrow Bt800bn in 2012

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the public debt management plan for the 2012 fiscal year, which calls for the borrowing of Bt800 billion.

In the previous plan, the borrowing was only Bt350 billion.

According to a document obtained by Krungthep Turakij, of total, Bt400 billion will be borrowed to address the budget deficit, up by Bt50 billion from the previous plan. Another Bt350 billion will finance post-flood reconstruction projects while the remaining Bt50 billion is for the national insurance pool.

-- The Nation 2012-03-13

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Smog Situation Improves in Northern Provinces

CHIANG RAI: -- The smog situation that has affected the air quality and health of locals in some northern provinces has improved.

The air quality in Chiang Rai Province has improved today compared to many days ago, particularly at the Thai-Burmese border in Mae Sai District, where the level of dust under 10 microns had been higher than the safety standard for many days.

The Pollution Control Department disclosed that the dust density in Mae Sai District decreased to 112 micrograms per cubic meter, which was up to the safety standard for the first time in a month.

The amount of small dust particles was measured at 60 micrograms per cubic meter in front of the Provincial Resources and Environment Office in Muang district.

The cause of the sharp decline of the amount of dust particles in the air is attributed to heavy winds, a high pressure cell from China covering the northern region and rain.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department Director General Wiboon Sanguanpong said the rain alleviate the smog problem in the northern provinces.

However, the situation in three districts in two provinces, namely the district of Mae Sai and Muang in Chiang Rai and Muang District in Mae Hong Son is still critical and continues to affect the health of local residents.

Wiboon noted that he has ordered the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation offices and related agencies in Phitsanulok, Lampang and Chiang Rai provinces to coordinate efforts to tackle the smog problem.

He also ordered provincial governors in the provinces to take action against people causing wildfire.

They are also responsible for carrying out artificial rainmaking operations, dispatching trucks to spray water into the air to increase humidity and reduce pollution levels as well as seeking residents' cooperation to refrain from slash and burn activities.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-13

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Cabinet appoints new provincial waterworks governor with Bt300,000 salary

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet Tuesday approved the appointment of a new Provincial Waterworks Authority governor who will receive the monthly salary of Bt300,000.

Deputy Government Spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said the Cabinet approved the appointment of Ratana Kijwan as the new PWA governor as proposed by the Interior Ministry.

Anusorn said Ratana will have to resign as a PWA employee before signing the contract to hire her as the PWA governor.

-- The Nation 2012-03-13

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Cabinet approves Bt24 bln for unified water management; water retention areas to be designated clearly in April /MCOT

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Phuket Gazette: Foreigners own 100 million rai

Aerial shot of Patong beach, Phuket. Photo: Nicky Vermeulen

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SET index closed at 1153.56, up 3.38; Bt/USD30.48; GBP47.56; AUD31.95; EUR40.02; CAD30.57; HKD3.92; SGD24.10; JPY36.81

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Farmers against Flood Plan

BANGKOK: -- Farmers are calling for the government to review its decision not to include farmland east of the Chao Phraya River as water retention areas.

They claimed their farmland are severely affected by floods every year.

The government has declared farmland located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River as a water retention area as part of its 2012 flood management plan.

Basically, these plots of land will be used by the government as a waterway or an area to retain floodwater. Affected farmland owners will be compensated by the state for the use of their land.

However, local farmers with plots of farmland located on the east side of the river are not happy with the decision.

These areas include Muang, and Pah Mok districts in Ang Thong Province along with Maharaj and Bang Pa Han districts in Ayutthaya Province. They want the government to exclude their farmland in the flood prevention plan.

Farmer representative of Ang Thong Province, Somchart Yimlamai called the decision unfair.

He claimed the government declined to compensate the farmers because farm plots on the east of the river experience flooding every year.

Somchart said the areas are often poorly irrigated and become flooded when the farming season begins.

Meanwhile, the Water Resources Department is in the process of dredging Posa Canal which was badly affected by the 2011 floods. The canal was used as the main waterway to prevent the city and business centers from being completely flooded.

The canal will also act as one of the main waterways to help manage the floods this year after the government declared areas west of the Chao Phraya River as a water retention zone.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-13

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New cute flash drive disguised as a mini hard drive

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Submarine procurement project scrapped

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Navy chief Admiral Surasak Runroengrom on Tuesday conceded that the Navy would no longer push for buying four used submarines with the Bt7.6 billion price tag from Germany.

"The deadline for purchase has passed since February 29 and the Navy will not seek to keep the buying option," he said.

Surasak said the Navy had done its best but failed to push through the deployment of submarines.

Following a series of reviews, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat reportedly finalised his decision to sink the project. He has yet to instruct the Navy on whether to come up with a spending plan for new submarines.

-- The Nation 2012-03-13

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Chinese spies friended NATO officials with a fake Facebook account

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Three foreigners arrested in separate drug cases

SAMUT PRAKAN, March 13 - A Sierra Leonean man was arrested with over 700 grammes of crystal methamphetamine (ice) at Suvarnabhumi Airport and two Lao women were nabbed at a bus station in the northeastern province of Loei with almost 600 methamphetamine pills on Tuesday.

Samuel Ayo Pratt was arrested with 49 bars of ice, weighing 755 grammes with an estimated street value of two million baht.

Having arrived from Ethiopia, he was waiting to board a connecting flight to Penang, Malaysia at Suvarnabhumi Airport. He confessed to being hired for US$3,000 to carry the drug from Cameroon by swallowing the drug before the flight.

He was due to hand it over his cache of drugs to an agent in Penang.

In another case in Loei province, bordering the Lao PDR, two Lao women were arrested at a bus station after police were tipped-off that a drug smuggler will enter Thailand at the immigration checkpoint in Chiang Khan.

Pad Saengprachan, 41 and Khamlah Thongwankham, 36, were detained with 585 pills of methamphetamine in a bag.

Ms Pad confessed to receiving Bt6,000 (about US$200) to deliver the drug to a Thai national in Loei’s Erawan district. The payment was to have been divided between them. Ms Khamlah, however, denied what Ms Pad said, saying they came from the same village and accidentally met on the bus.

Asked to carry the bag by Ms Pad when she boarded the bus, Ms Khamlah said she knew the other woman to be a drug trader and that Ms Pad’s husband was a drug dealer, earlier sentenced nine years in jail in Loei.

The police charged them for possessing illicit drug for sale, and are seeking a Thai person, implicated by the arrested suspect. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-13

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Phuket Police net bumper haul in serial thieves' arrest

Phuket Gazette –

Although most of the electronics items were already sold, Phuket Police seized more than 100 stolen goods in the raid. Photo: Warisa Temram

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/540575-phuket-police-net-bumper-haul-in-serial-thieves-arrest/page__view__findpost__p__5131953

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Official corruption: PACC names Phuket ‘model province’

Phuket Gazette –

Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha praised the ongoing investigation into the involvement of officials in illegal land titles. Photo: Gazette file

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/540576-official-corruption-pacc-names-phuket-model-province/page__view__findpost__p__5131981

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Thailand Live Wednesday 14 Mar 2012