Thailand Live Wednesday 14 Mar 2012

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Construction Material Prices Likely to Rise in Next Couple of Months

BANGKOK: -- CRC Power Retail company expects that the construction industry in Thailand continues to grow because many houses need to be repaired and rebuilt after the flood crisis.

Thai Watsadu and Home Work hardware stores may increase their prices in the next 2 months.

CRC Power Retail Company President, along with Thai Watsadu and Home Work Hardware stores Executive, Suttisarn Jiratiwat, said at the end of last year, the Thai Watsadu hardware stores have been expanded to 10 branches, while Home Works stores have been established 7 branches in surrounding areas of Bangkok and other provinces.

The company made the turnover up to 6 billion baht or 60 percent, despite that the last quarter of previous year, domestic economic growth was down to 1 percent due to the flood crisis.

The executive believes that the construction supply business will grow gradually by 5 to 6 percent in this year because the demand of home improvement and new home construction will be higher.

While, the GDP growth rate is between 5.5 and 6.5 percent. For this year, the company projected the sale volume at 10 billion baht or 65 percent. Furthermore, the company had plan to expand another 10 branches of Thai Watsadu and 8 stores of Home Work.

Suttisarn also added that the energy price hike will affect the transportation cost which causes the construction supply increasing within 1 or 2 months such as steel and tiles. However, no construction suppliers have asked to raise the prices.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-14

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Higher Electricity Charge Expected in May

BANGKOK: -- The electricity charge for May is expected to rise in line with the increasing price of natural gas and global oil.

President of Energy Regulatory Commission Direk Lavansiri said the fuel adjustment tariff, or FT, between May to August is most likely to increase as the price of natural gas used as fuel for the generation of electricity is still high in accordance with the rising global oil price.

He further said that the natural gas accounts for as high as 70 percent of all costs used in the FT charge calculation. The committee will hold a meeting next month to consider an increase in the rate.

Direk also spoke of the result of the 3rd meeting of ASEAN's energy regulatory bodies and experts hosted by Thailand, saying it was successful with the ASEAN Energy Regulators’ Network, or AERN, to be set up.

He stated that a meeting is set to be held again in the next two months to conclude the framework of the committee, push for the joint use of powerline networks in the ASEAN countries, and consider an investment of building power plants in developing nations that have a wealth of resources but lack the budget.

The Energy Regulatory Commission president added that the cooperation is aimed at saving power and enabling nationals of each country to use low-price electricity, which is expected to materialize before the launch of ASEAN Economic Community.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-14

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Supreme Commander Vows to Protect National Interest on Thai-Cambodian Border Relations

BANGKOK: -- The supreme commander says the Prime Minister has approved the formation of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Working Committee on troop withdrawal while insisting that the military will do its best to protect Thailand's interest.

Supreme Commander of Thai Armed Forces General Thanasak Patimaprakorn said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has approved the establishment of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Working Group, or JWG, on troop withdrawal from the disputed land area and that the Armed Forces will adhere to sovereignty protection, accountability, and equality.

He noted that the current situation on the Thai-Cambodian border remains normal and that the JWG will allow the two countries to engage in friendly discussions to find the best solution for both.

Thanasak commented that the International Court of Justice, or ICJ's, ruling on the troop pullout will aim at promoting peace process between Thailand and Cambodia.

Regarding remarks by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that the ICJ's decision may put Thailand at disadvantage over the 4.6-square-kilometer disputed land patch around Preah Vihear Temple, the supreme commander said he will not allow that to happen and that Cambodia should not try take advantage from its neighbor.

He believes that the Court will give fairness to both sides.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-14

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'End of term' for Pro Racing Series at Bira

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....series-at-bira/

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SET index midday up 10.67 pts, 0.92 pct

BANGKOK: -- Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Wednesday stood at 1,164.23, up 10.67 points, or 0.92 per cent in line with regional shares amid Bt17.27 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 818.21, up 8.24 points, or 1.02 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: JAS, KTB, PTT, ADVANC, TOP, BANPU.

-- The Nation 2012-03-14

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UTCC suggests govt to gradually raise retail diesel and benzene prices

BANGKOK, 14 March 2012 (NNT) - A leading researcher is suggesting the government to raise retail fuel prices in a gradual manner, in order to help consumers adjust themselves towards the higher cost of living.

Mr. Thanavath Pholvichai, Director of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said on Tuesday that the volatile global energy market will likely push world oil prices to an average of US$112.5 per barrel for this year, up from the previous forecast of US$107.00 per barrel.

However, Mr. Thanavath believes that higher global energy prices will not have a significant impact on local diesel price, which is expected to remain below the 40-baht-a-liter level throughout the year 2012

Still, he is urging the government to carefully implement the oil tax policy and to postpone the excise tax collection on diesel and benzene sales until the second half of this year because the Thai economy is still recovering from last year's flood crisis.

Mr. Thanavath noted that if the retail fuel prices are to go up, it should be gradual because for every one baht added to pump prices, Thai GDP may go down by 0.2-0.3% while the public slowing cutting back on their spending.

He went on to say that, with prices of consumer goods going up, Thai inflation in 2012 may exceed the 4% target that the Commerce Ministry has earlier set. Under such circumstances, Mr. Thanavath expects the Bank of Thailand to be less likely to raise its benchmark interest rate in the near future, in order to avoid pushing inflation rate to go further up.

-- NNT 2012-03-14

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Privy Councillor Sawad Wattanayagorn passes away

The Nation

BANGKOK;-- Privy Councillor Sawad Wattanayagorn, 77, died on Tuesday's evening while undergoing treatment for cancer at Ramathibodi Hospital.

The royal-sponsored bathing ritte will be held on Wednesday at 5.00 pm at Wat Benjamabophit (Marble Temple).

Sawad received the royal appointment to the Privy Council in 2002 culminating his career in public service.

Following his graduation in structural engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he entered the civil service by serving at the Royal Irrigation Department in 1962.

He rose to become the Irrigation director general in 1992, the position he held until his retirement in 1995.

Among his post-retirement jobs included a judicial appointment to the Supreme Administrative Court from 2000 to 2002.

Born in 1934 into a prominent family in Pattani, he was the seventh son among 10 siblings. He father was civil servant Khunthamrongpanpakdee and his mother was Soithong Wattanayagorn nee Khananurak.

He completed his primary study at a local school. He received his secondary education at Bangkok Christian College before further his studies in Australia and the United States.

He is survived by wife Khunying Panjit and a son.

-- The Nation 2012-03-14

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Pheu Thai MP disqualified

BANGKOK:-- The Election Commission has disqualified Pheu Thai MP Distad Khumprakob on the grounds for failing to live at least five years in his Nakhon Sawan constituency.

Under the elections law, an electoral candidate must maintain a minimum of five-year residence in a given constituency before qualifying for the race.

EC member Sodsri Satayathum said on Wednesday that Distad, a first-time MP, had his domicile for less than three years before the July 3 elections.

Based on the EC ruling, his name appeared to two house registrations, one in Bangkok and another in Nakhon Sawan. He also had two identification cards.

-- The Nation 2012-03-14

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400 rai frozen in Narathiwat; possible insurgency connection

NARATHIWAT, March 14 - Police in this southern border province on Wednesday ‘froze’ a 400 rai rubber plantation worth Bt10 million believed linked to a drug syndicate and the insurgency.

Police Lt-Col Preecha Kimkliang, head of the provincial police task force, brought a letter to the Sungai Padi district land office seeking to confiscate the parcel of land. The move followed a police investigation which found links to a drug syndicate led by Yussari Padao arrested earlier by police in collaboration with insurgents carrying out a bombing and shooting a rubber plantation owner.

The insurgent action prompted fears and the land owner announced the sale of the land at a lower price.

The drug ring then allegedly bought the land and used it as a base, hideout and meeting place for insurgents. Police confiscate the land until its owner clarifies how it was acquired.

Col Preecha said the current landowner also owns a religious school in Cho-I-Rong district.

Police investigators said the drug ring has bought about 1,000 rai of land to shelter insurgents, and that further evidence is now being collected. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-14

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SOUTH CRISIS

Deputy PM and army chief visit Pattani

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PATTANI:-- Deputy Prime Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa and Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday left the capital for the southern border province of Pattani to follow up security operations.

They are visiting Pattani to follow up policy implementation and to integrate works to ease continuing violence in the deep southern provinces as well as to give policy guidelines to local security personnel.

In addition, the trip is also aimed to listen to problems related to operations to tackle the unrest.

Speaking before heading to Pattani, Gen Prayuth explained that drug and contraband goods problems were major factors which have caused the ongoing violence in the region.

Meanwhile, retaliation by suspected insurgents against government officials resulted from drug sweep operations, the army chief said. He added that drug rings have linked with syndicates of suspected insurgents. Gen Prayuth said that the connections between drug smuggling and suspected insurgent groups were a major problem which made it difficult to solve the disturbances.

Regarding troop withdrawals from the violence-plagued southern zones, Gen Prayuth said the military personnel were ready to withdraw from the areas only if all concerned agencies were

able to handle the situations.

He argued that police and village defence volunteers on their own are unable to cope with the

violent incidents.

On March 13, the Cabinet approved further extension of the emergency decree in the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat for another three months.

The resurgence of the insurgency in the far South in 2004 has claimed more than 5,000 lives of residents, government officials and suspected insurgents themselves.

-- The Nation 2012-03-14

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Haze in North, except Lampang, Nan, gradually improves; dust particle level within safety standard TAN_Network

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PM discusses smog problem with 9 northern provinces; assures situation has improved and rain-making will be carried out /TANN

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ADB to help Thailand develop rail system

BANGKOK, 14 March 2012 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry has revealed that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered a technical assistance to the Thai government to improve its rail system.

After discussing with ADB officials, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport Jamroon Tangpaisalkit said the Bank has shown willingness to help Thailand improve its infrastructure.

Under the proposal, the ADB will give technical and administrative advice in terms of financial and income management. The ADB said the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has been beset with several problems and it would like to help to improve the organization.

Mr Jamroon said the Bank has offered to assist the SRT in terms of infrastructure and technical improvement given the Thai government has committed a 170 billion baht budget to improving and developing the SRT's infrastructure.

-- NNT 2012-03-14

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Election Commission Affirms Jatuporn Remains Active MP Until Court Issues Ruling

BANGKOK: -- Election Commissioner Sodsri Sattayatham reaffirmed that Jatuporn Phromphan is eligible to continue performing his duty as a Member of Parliament until the Constitution Court issues its verdict on the allegation against him.

Election Commissioner in charge of political party and national referendum affairs Sodsri Sattayatham denied having made remarks that Pheu Thai Party list MP Jatuporn Phromphan must stop performing his duty, saying the Constitution Court's interpretation of his status according to Article 91 of the Constitution is different from the case of electoral frauds according Article 239, where the Election Commission has the authority to give red-or yellow-cards to guilty MPs.

She noted that according to Article 91, there is no clause specifying that an MP must stop performing his duty when the Constitution Court accepts a petition, so Jatuporn will remain active as Pheu Thai MP until the Court hands down its decision.

Regarding the petition filed by Tul Sitthisomwong, the coordinator of the Civil Network for Protection of the Nation, asking the Election Commission to seek the Constitution Court's consideration of the dissolution of the Pheu Thai Party, which sponsors Jatuporn as MP, Sodsri said a sub-committee must be set up to review the petition first because it could be politicized.

However, the Election Commission previously endorsed the MP status of Jatuporn and his eligibility to run in an election.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-14

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Senior Monks Fall Victim to Call Center Gang

BANGKOK: -- A gang of telephone fraudsters has been arrested by the 191 Patrol and Special Operations Division after posing as National Buddhism officials and luring senior monks to transfer approximately 100,000 baht to them.

Fifty-year-old Jakkrit Phonak and his partners were arrested by the 191 Patrol and Special Operations Division after posing as National Buddhism officials and luring senior monks to transfer approximately 200,000 baht.

The culprits contacted the monks by phone and asked for 2 to 3 million baht to build a school at the temple.

They lured the monks into transferring two to three hundred thousand baht to them. Jakkrit confessed that he searched for senior monks' numbers from the National Buddhism phone book.

Many senior monks from different temples have fallen victim to them, and transferred several hundreds of thousands baht.

Recently, they called a senior monk in Trat Province while he was on duty at Sam Phraya Viharn Temple.

However, the senior monk did not believe the culprits and informed the police. The police called Jakkrit and lured him to meet to receive 10,000 baht in advance. Jakkrit was finally arrested.

Initially, a gang of telephone fraudsters has been charged for faking government documents and posing as authorities to defraud victims.

This case is not the first time for these telephone fraudsters, as there are arrest warrants against them in Saraburi and Trat provinces.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-14

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Tourist Safety Revised after Boat Accident

PHUKET: -- The managing director of the Phuket Airport has deployed officials to encourage people to use safe vehicles after a long-tail boat accident that killed one and seriously injured a French tourist while they were sightseeing. Stricter safety measures will be established.

Officials have been ordered to put plans in place as well as have on hand search tools, equipment, communication devices, and patrol boats in order to ensure safety after a recent long-tail boat accident in which one person was killed and one French tourist was injured while they were sightseeing at Kui Lin Thailand, or the Ratchaprapa dam, next to Kao Sok National Park, in Surat Thani's Ban Ta Khun District. The injured tourist was rushed to Surat Thani Hospital.

The latest update indicates that Surat Thani Governor Teerayuth Iamtrakoon has ordered officials to take great care in treating the injured patient and provide assistance in transferring the body of the deceased back to France.

The long-tail boat owner has initially been charged with causing injuries and death by recklessness.

Meanwhile, Pratheung Sornkum, managing director of Phuket Airport, along with affiliated units have joined in publicizing the use of passenger vehicles in order to prevent tourists from being frauded.

Unauthorized taxis for tourists at Phuket Airport have been called in for inspection. At the same time, signs have been put up in various areas to promote precautionary measures .

Pratheung said that previously, many foreign tourists reported incidents of fraud, saying that they were met by unauthorized vehicles. For this reason, tourist industry regulations have been revised, and violators will face penal action.

Step one will be to issue a warning to all illegal vehicles, while tourists will be informed about the measures during a two-week campaign. Stricter measures and laws will be applied afterwards.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-14

related:

Phuket Airport 'black taxis' given ultimatum

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Ministry pledges to ease Suvarnabhumi Airport congestion

BANGKOK, March 14 - Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sittipan promised on Wednesday that the ministry would speed up efforts to ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi Airport which caused delays and inconvenience for outbound passengers.

Full story:

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Chulalongkorn University to spend THB1.8 billion on new mall

BANGKOK, 14 March 2012 (NNT) - Chulalongkorn University is prepared to demolish Lido Theatre and transform the area into a new shopping mall.

According to the university’s Property Management Office, an area of around 7-8 rai surrounding Lido Theatre will be transformed into a new shopping mall after leases granted to Lido and other shops in the area expire in 2013. The university plans the construction of the new mall will begin in early 2014.

Currently the university is developing the Siam Square One project which is located next to Lido. The project is expected to finish in December next year.

The Property Management Office said that the university’s land plot on Rama 1 Road is the prime spot for shopping malls. After Siam Theatre was burned down during the political unrest, the university has changed it to a shopping complex under the Siam Square One project. The planned transformation of Lido Theatre and its surrounding area including the adjacent Scala Theatre constitutes the second phase of development of this land plot.

-- NNT 2012-03-14

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Drought Worsens in Provinces

BANGKOK: -- Farmers and villagers in many provinces are suffering as the drought situation has worsened.

Region 3 Army Commander Lieutenant General Wanthip Wongwai, in his capacity as head of the Region 3 Army's Disaster Relief Center, presided over the launch of a relief convoy to help people affected by drought in remote areas in 17 northern provinces.

The activity was held under collaboration of the Army, PTT, the Provincial Electricity Authority, the Provincial Waterworks Authority, and the Groundwater Resources Department.

Dairy cattle farmers in Uthai Thani Province have already been affected by hot weather with 30-percent decline in the amount of milk produced.

Sompote Khaohom, a dairy cattle farmer, said a dairy cow earlier produced about ten kilograms of milk per day, but it has dropped to seven kilograms now due to hot weather.

In Sakon Nakhon Province, locals in Phon Na Kaeo District are being hit hard by drought as they are now running short of water for consumption. Temperature has risen to almost 40 degrees Celsius, while natural water sources in many areas have dried up. Agricultural produce was also damaged by drought.

Monkeys living at Tham Pha Mak Hor Temple in Loei's Wang Saphung District are facing food shortage and have to eat vegetable planted by local farmers to survive.

Meanwhile, the water level in the Chao Phraya River in Chaiyo District of Ang Thong Province has unexpectedly decreased from ten meters to only one to two meters with sandbars becoming visible in the middle of the river.

Latest reports said that the Irrigation Department plans to discharge water from dams into the Chao Phraya River as severe drought is expected this year, raising concern of people along the river.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-14

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PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN

Briton and Thai wife murdered at beach resort

The Nation

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__5133877

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Thais consume 128 million medicine tablets a day: health minister

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thais have been consuming 128 million medicine tablets each day on average, according to the Department of Medical Services (DMS).

"Such amount is worrying because the residue from medicines can accumulate in bodies and harm people's health," Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said Wednesday.

He said his ministry planned to seriously promote the regular exercise and good choice of food as means to maintain good health in the 2013 Fiscal Year, which will start from October 1.

"Then, we should be able to reduce Thais' dependence on medicines," he said.

Witthaya also went as far as instructing relevant authorities to introduce some incentives for people who agreed to give up medicines they might not really need.

-- The Nation 2012-03-14

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Foreign Minister says Thailand at disadvantage over Preah Vihear case

BANGKOK, 14 March 2012 (NNT)-Foreign Minister Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Thailand would be at a disadvantage if Cambodia brings the Preah Vihear case back to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) although he said Thailand would fight the case to the best of its ability.

Mr. Surapong expressed concern that the Kingdom would only stand a chance of getting even or losing in the case.

He noted that the world court’s ruling on the Preah Vihear issue was first made during the administration of the 10th Prime Minister of Thailand, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, and that the fence built at that time has nothing to do with border demarcation.

According to him, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will call a meeting of lawyers the government has hired to defend Thailand in the territorial dispute on May 10th. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also prepared information in the forms of fact sheets, books and documentaries for distribution to the public to raise their awareness about the history of the overlapping zone.

-- NNT 2012-03-14

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Magnitude-6.8 hits Japan's north, tsunami warning issued

TOKYO: -- A magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck northern Japan Wednesday and tsunami warning was issued, the Meteorological Agency said.

Tsunami waves of up to 50 centimetres were expected to reach the coasts of Iwate and Aomori prefectures at 6:40 pm (0940 GMT), the agency said.

The quake occurred at 6:09 pm with an epicentre off Aomori prefecture at a depth of 10 kilometres, the agency said.

No injuries or damage were reported.

A magnitude-9 quake and tsunami hit north-eastern Japan on March 11, 2011 leaving more than 15,800 dead and nearly 3,300 missing.

-- The Nation 2012-03-14

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SET index closed at 1164.36, up 10.80; Bt/USD30.60; GBP48.00; AUD32.03; EUR39.84; CAD30.69; HKD3.94; SGD24.08; JPY36.49

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Seasonal haze gradually improving in North

BANGKOK, March 14 – The seasonal haze enveloping Thailand’s northern provinces is gradually improving -- except for Lampang and Nan -- as the current particulate dust level is within acceptable safety standards, according to the Pollution Control Department.

The pollution specialist agency reported that air quality inspection on Wednesday showed that less than 10 micron dust particles during the past 24 hours measured between 35.0-98.9 microgrammes per cubic metre on average, which was lower than the maximum safety standard level of 120 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The region’s average air quality condition as a whole was considered good, at medium standard. The haze problem was subsiding in most provinces except in Lampang and Nan, which both measured slightly higher dust particle levels.

In a related development, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday chaired a video conference with the governors of Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, Phayao, and Tak to follow up the haze situation in the north.

Ms Yingluck told the governors that her government is worried and is closely monitoring the situation. The premier ordered the agencies concerned to solve the problem as quickly as possible.

However, the situation in many provinces is reportedly improving, except in Mae Hong Son which still measured high level of dust particle. The premier then ordered the Ministry of Agriculture to address the problem.

Mae Hong Son governor Naruemol Plawat said that there was rain in most districts except for Sop Moei. General air quality in the province was improving with the dust particle level measured at 156 microgrammes per cubic metre, but at that level still exceeded the maximum safety standard.

She said the haze problem in the province was partly due to atmospheric haze flowing across the border from Myanmar and that lower temperatures were also trapping the haze in the city. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-14

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US Consular Outreach in Phuket

PHUKET: -- The American Citizen Services section of the United States Embassy in Bangkok will be at the Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort in Karon on Thursday morning as part of its “consular outreach” service.

Full story:

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WFFT charges top DNP officials with defamation

Phuket Gazette

Edwin Wiek (left) explains to a Swiss film crew about the recent developments in Thailand's elephant trade. Photo: WFFT

A bull elephant at Kaeng Krachan National Park, where the Thai elephant trade crackdown fiasco all began. Photo: WFFT

PHUKET: -- A Dutch-born wildlife activist has filed defamation charges against top-ranking Thai officials of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) for claiming his shelter in Petchaburi was involved in the torture and trade of protected wildlife species.

Full story:

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Three men arrested for killing Briton, wife in coastal resort

PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN, March 14 - Police in this coastal province southwest of Bangkok arrested three men for allegedly murdering a British tourist and his Thai wife in a seaside resort.

Full story:

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Thailand blocks 5,000 'royal insult' web pages

BANGKOK, March 14, 2012 (AFP) - Thai authorities have blocked thousands of web pages deemed insulting to the monarchy in the past three months, police said Wednesday, amid growing debate about the kingdom's lese majeste law.

More than 5,000 pages with content deemed to be critical of the royal family were taken down between December and March, Thailand's national police spokesman Piya Utayo told reporters.

"We found that the number of inappropriate or insulting posts was less and less," he said, without explaining the cause of the reduction.

Lese majeste, or article 112 of the Thai criminal code, is designed to protect senior royals from insult, but academics say it has been politicised in recent years.

The royal family is an extremely sensitive subject in Thailand, with 84-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej revered as a demi-god by many.

Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter are providing a platform for both critics of the law and ultra-monarchists, who have encouraged Internet users to report posts that are regarded as insulting the royals.

On Monday, media rights group Reporters Without Borders said in a report that the current Thai government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had presided over a worsening of Internet censorship.

"If Thailand continues down the slope of content filtering and jailing netizens on lese majeste charges, it could soon join the club of the world's most repressive countries as regards the Internet," the report said.

Under Thailand's strict lese majeste rules, insulting the monarchy or a member of the royal family can result in jail terms of up to 15 years. Anyone can file a lese majeste complaint, and police are duty-bound to investigate it.

And under Thailand's computer crime law, introduced in 2007, acts of defamation and posting false rumours online are punishable by five years in jail.

Recent cases have sparked fierce debates, including over a 61-year-old man who was jailed in November for 20 years for sending text messages deemed insulting to the monarchy.

A Thai political activist was sentenced in February to seven and a half years in prison for insulting the monarchy.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-03-14

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ELECTION COMMISSION

Nakhon Sawan MP disqualified

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- The Election Commission has disqualified Pheu Thai MP Distad Khumprakob for failing to live at least five years in his Nakhon Sawan constituency.

Under the election law, an electoral candidate must maintain a minimum of five years residence in a given constituency before qualifying for the race.

EC member Sodsri Satayathum said on Wednesday that Distad, a first time MP, had been in his domicile for less than three years before the July 3 elections.

Based on the EC ruling, his name appeared on two house registrations, one in Bangkok and another in Nakhon Sawan. He also had two identification cards.

The EC is obliged to forward its ruling for a judicial review by the Supreme Court’s Elections Division.

Relevant authorities are expected to explain to the high court how and why the Pheu Thai MP has two domiciles and two IDs.

Should the high court endorse the disqualification, Distad is liable for reimbursement of the by-election cost.

-- The Nation 2012-03014