Thailand Live Thursday 15 Mar 2012

[webfact]

Drug Trade Suspect Arrested in Samut Sakhon's Central Prison

SAMUT SAKHON: -- Police arrested a suspect with 97.5 grams of crystallized methamphetamine and 2,600 amphetamine pills, while the suspect confessed that he traded drugs with an inmate in Samut Sakhon's central prison to resell them to dealers in the Pracha-uthit area.

Sawang Sirisopon was arrested at his room in the Srithai Building, in Pracha-uthit area, along with 97.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 2,600 amphetamine pills after the investigation led to discover that he was involved in a drug trade.

Police officers conducted a sting operation by going undercover as drug dealers and planned to meet him at his room. They later exposed their true identity and arrested the suspect.

Initially, Sawang confessed that he traded drugs through phone calls with Josh, a drug-case inmate in Samut Sakorn's central prison.

Josh normally arranges the meeting place and asks his partner to deliver drugs to him.

Money is then transferred to Josh's bank account where he receives 2,000 baht per gram of crystallized methamphetamine sold, and 150 baht for a pill of amphetamine.

Police charged Sawang with drug possession with the intention of resell. Furthermore, it was found that Sawang was a well-behaved inmate in Khon Kaen's central prison.

He was released in 2009 and returned to the drug trade connections again before the arrest.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Park Rangers Practice Tactical Combat and Firearm Training

TAK: -- National park authorities and forest rangers of Tak Province gather to practice in tactical combat and firearms training after four national park rangers were held hostage by the Hmong tribe.

Pob Phra Police Station Commander, Police Major Peerapetch Udomchit, along with the Pha Charoen Waterfall National Park chief in Tak Province have organized a combat and weapons training to the national park authorities and forest rangers.

The training was conducted after the Hmong tribe held four national park rangers hostage last Sunday because they were angry that the park authorities have ordered a strict crackdown against forest encroachment.

The national park chief pointed out that the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation ordered the forest rangers stationed at Pob Phra and Umphang districts to receive tactical combat and firearm trainings to defend themselves more effectively against their assailants.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Woman discovers her husband's other wife via Facebook

Full story:

[webfact]

Foreign-owned Thailand

Full story:

[Lite Beer]

Pattani villager passerby killed by shrapnel as presumed insurgents detonate motorcycle bomb intended for military vehicle /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@veen_NT: Video: Krabi habour officials crackdown on boat operators http://event:http://t.co/iqht9q7W RT @LeroyNewsDesign

[Lite Beer]

SET closed up by 4.58 points at 1,168.94 points with value of Bt18.97 bn during midday break /TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

3.3 magnitude quake with epicenter 37km away from Maefahluang, Chiang Rai; no damage reported /TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Govt allocates up to Bt115mn subsidy to check cooking palm oil price rise

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- The government is planning to dip into its budget and spend Bt68 million to Bt115 million for a month to subsidise the cooking palm oil supply after manufacturers yesterday asked for a Bt8 increase in the retail price to Bt50 for a litre bottle.

The ministry's plan is an urgent measure to maintain the retail price at Bt42 for a litre bottle. In addition, it will help control inflation amid fears of a rising cost of living. Under the plan, the government will spend about Bt3-Bt5 to subsidise each bottle of cooking palm oil.

The subsidy would be spent on importing crude palm oil or purchasing local crude palm oil.

The move came after cooking palm oil manufacturers asked the Commerce Ministry to adjust the retail price from Bt42 to Bt50 per litre bottle. Manufacturers said they were facing higher production costs as the crude palm oil price had risen significantly from Bt29 per litre last month to Bt34-Bt35 now.

The rise in the crude palm oil price is in line with the increasing price of palm oil fruit from Bt4 to Bt6-Bt6.40 per kilogram due to low supply in the late harvest season.

Domino effect

After a meeting with eight cooking palm oil manufacturers yesterday, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said the government would not allow producers to increase the price in an effort to prevent the cost of living from going up.

"If we allowed the retail price of cooking palm oil to rise, it would create a domino effect on other goods and food prices. The government will shoulder the rising cost through subsidy measures directly through manufacturers," said Boonsong.

Executives of leading cooking palm oil brands Morakot, Yok, Kasorn, Lela, Oleen, Phueng, Racha, and Waew attended the meeting with the ministry yesterday.

The ministry will seek Cabinet approval for the budget allocation next week. At least 30,000 tonnes of crude palm oil would be imported. In addition, the budget would be spent to purchase domestic crude palm oil production and sold at the same cost to control the retail price.

The market price of crude palm oil overseas is currently quoted at Bt35 per litre, equal to the local price.

"The subsidy programme will be for only a month as the new harvest season will begin in April," said Boonsong.

A source at a refined palm-oil manufacturer said that producers would shoulder higher cost of production for only one month according to their stockpiles.

"Without approval for price adjustment or assistance measures from the government, manufacturers will soon suspend production as they can't shoulder the rising costs any longer," said the source.

Wiwan Boonyaprateeprat, secretary-general of the Thai Oil Palm and Palm Oil Association, said the government should allow a price increase to reflect the real cost of production and prevent a repeat of the shortage problem in the near future.

She said the government could not easily import crude palm oil at a lower price as the price in Thailand and the imported variety is not different; both trade at Bt35 per litre. Even in Malaysia, the world's leading palm oil supplier, the retail price of cooking palm oil has been quoted at Bt50 per litre bottle.

The current total stock of crude palm oil with producers would reach 240,000 tonnes, which can ensure supply for one or two months, said Wiwan.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

[Lite Beer]

Commerce seeks approval for palm oil import

The Nation

The Commerce Ministry plans to seek 40,000 tonnes of palm oil imports, in an attempt to ease spiking demand at home.

Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said that the ministry would ask for the Cabinet’s approval soon, to have PTT Plc import the palm oil in a 1-month period. As the import price should not exceed Bt30 per kilo, this should prevent local prices from rising over Bt42 per kilo.

He noted that domestic price increases would only hurt consumers.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

[webfact]

King orders rainmaking operation to urgently solve haze

BANGKOK, March 15 - His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, worried about the haze which continues to besiege a number of Thailand’s northern provinces, ordering the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation to urgently solve the problem, according to Deputy Secretary-General of the Royal Household Bureau Dissathorn Vajarodaya.

Mr Dissathorn said the king is concerned for the well-being of the people of the northern provinces, particularly their health, because dust particle levels exceeding safety standards can cause respiratory illnesses.

The monarch ordered a follow up from the operation of the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation which is responsible for the country’s artificial rainmaking operations.

He said the past week’s operation was successful as rain helped ease the haze in many provinces.

However, the problem in Mae Hong Son persists and remains critical as the dust particle level is high.

The monarch assigned the Northern Royal Rainmaking Centre in Chiang Mai to conduct rainmaking in Mae Hong Son and said he expected the situation to gradually improve soon.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday met the governors of Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, Phayao, and Tak by video conference 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. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Metropolitan Police Chief to Work At Full Potential to Ensure Safeness of Thai Residents

BANGKOK: -- The Metropolitan Police Bureau chief ensures the safeness of Thai residents, even though the secretary of the National Security Council Office stated that Thailand remains a high risk area for terrorism.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Winai Thongsong talked about the secretary of the National Security Council Office stating that Thailand remains a high risk area for terrorism.

He said that the Metropolitan Police have established measures to prevent terrorism to ensure the safeness of residents at their full potential, while continuing to investigate the sources of terrorism.

Furthermore, risky areas are being strictly watched, particularly popular tourist attractions. Moreover, Winai promised that he will work at his best to ensure residents' safeness to prevent adverse events during the upcoming Songkran Festival.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Police seize 2 mn speed pills at checkpoint in Mae Prik, Lampang; helicopters used to hunt for 4 suspected drug dealers /TANN

Social Development perm-sec Panita to file suit against alleged unfair transfer against PM /TANN

Commerce Ministry seeks Cabinet's approval for import of 40,000 tons of palm oil in April to keep bottled palm oil price at Bt42/l /TANN

Commerce Ministry: Jan export declined 6.03%, import fell 4.2%, trade deficit at $1.13 bn on flood crisis /TANN

[webfact]

City Police Crack Down on Narcotics

BANGKOK: -- The metropolitan police hold a press conference announcing the confiscation of narcotics and weapons in drug raids.

In citywide drug raids by the Metropolitan Police Bureau, police arrested 161 suspects for dealing drugs, 178 suspects for drug possession, 609 suspected drug users, five suspects for illegal pissession of firearms and seized more than 88,000 methamphetamine pills, 643 grams of the drug 'Ice,' 42 bags of marijuana, six guns and 38 rounds of ammunition.

The Saladaeng Police Station took in the largest haul of narcotics with the confiscation of 72,000 methamphetamine pills that were left in a bag on the side of Buddha Monthon 2 Soi 20.

Police said the bag was dropped off by narcotics dealers driving a white pick-up truck and were to be picked up by buyers in another pick-up truck. The buyers fled when they saw the police, leaving the bag of drugs on the side of the road.

In another case, Samrae Police arrested Prakit Chancharungkit, age 26, and Rerai Songsaeng, age 45, with 6,000 methamphetamine pills, one AK machine gun, and one M-26 grenade during a raid of their apartment. Police received a tip-off that the two were peddling drugs.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Man Held for Assaulting, Kidnapping 14-Year-Old Girl

BANGKOK: -- A telephone operator at a tutoring school in Bangkok has been arrested for assaulting and kidnapping a 14-year-old girl.

Tanongsak Nundul, age 48, who works as a telephone operator at a tutoring school in Bangkok, and Narathip Riensungnern, age 41, have been arrested by Chokechai police for assaulting two 14-year-old girls and holding them against their will at the tutoring school.

Tanongsak confessed to assaulting one of the girls, saying six months ago, he met the girl who ran away from home, took her in and gave her money. However, she ran away three days ago and came back with her friend to ask for money.

He saw red bruises around her neck so he got upset and beat her, as well as held her against her will at the tutoring school.

The girl sent a short message via her mobile phone to inform relatives of her friend that she's being held against her will so the relatives reported the incident to the police.

Tanongsak said he refused entrance to the police because he was taking narcotics at the time. He added that the other suspect Narathip had nothing to do with the case but was simply there to collect on a football betting debt. When the police came, they panicked and fled together.

The police have charged Tanongsak with holding someone hostage, holding a minor without parents' consent, assault, possession of narcotics, use of narcotics, and gambling. Narathip has been charged with gambling.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

SMOG

Monarch worried about haze in north

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- HM the King continues to be worried about the haze in many northern provinces and has ordered the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation to urgently solve the problem, deputy secretary general of the Royal Household Bureau Dissathorn Vajarodaya said.

Dissathorn said the King is concerned about the wellbeing of the people in the northern provinces, anf particularly their health, because dust particle levels exceeding safety standards can cause respiratory illnesses.

The King ordered a follow up of the operations of the bureau, which is responsible for the country's artificial rainmaking operations.

He said the past week's operation was successful as rain helped ease the haze in many provinces.

However, the problem in Mae Hong Son persists and remains critical as the dust particle level is high.

The monarch instructed the bureau's branch in Chiang Mai to conduct rainmaking in Mae Hong Son and said he expected the situation to gradually improve.

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

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.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

[webfact]

SOUTH CRISIS

Victims in deep south should get compensation package: Yuthasak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government should move ahead with a proposed Bt4.5 million compensation package for each victim of violence in Thailand's troubled southern border region, deputy prime minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa said on Thursday.

Gen Yuthasak said he supported the proposal that each person designated a victim of the violence in the region should be compensated in the same way as victims of political violence in recent years.

He was speaking one day after visiting the southern province of Pattani with Army Commander in Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha.

He said that the government should heal the wounds for family members of the victims, in particular, for their losses as a result of government officials' operations going wrong.

Gen Yuthasak said whether the proposed compensation was granted or not would depend on the Interior Ministry.

During the visit, Prayuth gave tactical operation guidelines for his soldiers to strictly follow to avoid losses following a string of recent deadly attacks in the region.

All security agencies, in particular the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre and provincial governors, have been instructed to integrate their work instead of relying on separate military operations.

The deputy premier added that he planned to visit the region at least once or twice a month to hold discussions with officials at the operational, administrative and senior levels as he did yesterday in Pattani.

Gen Yuthasak expressed confidence that the government’s 3-year policy was on the right track and added that performance would be reviewed in every three months to check on progress and adjust any mismanagement issues.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Supermarket Chain to Expand, Compete with Large Retail Stores

BANGKOK: -- Central Group is investing 1.5 billion baht in setting up 208 new branches of Tops Supermarket this year.

Alistair Taylor, Managing Director of Central Food Retail, which operates Tops Supermarket, said the company will be investing 1.5 billion baht to set up 208 new branches.

Of that, 200 will be the smaller Tops Daily convenience stores while eight will be Tops Supermarket branches.

The company also plans to add 2,000 items to its shelves, from the current 25,000 to 30,000.

The chain will be spending another 300 million baht on the campaign to promote daily discounted items to lessen the public's cost of living burden and compete with large retail stores. The company will select 5,000 key necessities and slash their prices from now to May.

The company targeted a growth of 15 to 20 percent in sales this year from last year's 23 billion baht.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Juvenile Holding Center Detainees Run Riot

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- A group of Shan inmates ran riot at a correctional center for female minors in Nakhon Ratchasima in protest against the transfer to another province.

A total of 37 Shan juveniles at Nareesawat Underage Women's Rehabilitation Center in Nakhon Ratchasima Province vandalized their sleeping quarters last night to air their opposition against the plan to transfer them to another youth correctional facility in Phitsanulok.

Director of the center Wallapa Dechakijpaisan said the rioters are from Myanmar and they were arrested for illegally entering the country.

She said the Social Development Department recently ordered their transfer to Phitsanulok Province during the repatriation process.

After the riot came to an end, they have been taken into the custody of the Nakhon Ratchasima police station.

Wallapa said the damage will be assessed to press charges against them with the police.

The center holds a total of 106 under-18 Thai and alien women.

Most of them were arrested for prostitution and illegal entry into the country.

The center provides vocational training for Thai inmates before they are released and holds illegal aliens until their repatriation.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Provinces Reel under Severe Drought

SI SA KET: -- Severe drought has spread to several parts of the country, with farmers suffering from its effects as water reservoirs are drying up.

Drought continues to affect vast areas in Si Sa Ket Province. Agricultural crops, including corn, in Baan Nong Kaen in Uthumphon Phisai District are withering and dying following the loss of their main water source.

Rice farmers in Sakon Nakhon's Muang District are suffering as over 3,000 rai of off-season rice fields are running out of water. Although the Nam Oun Dam has discharged water to the area, it's still inadequate for production. This, coupled with the spread of the golden apple snail, which is a major pest, raised farmers' concerns about possible losses this year.

In the meantime, Pongsak Khamsri, head of the Water Management and Irrigation System Improvement Branch of the Lower Khong Chee Moon project in Ubon Ratchathani Province, said the water level at 12 medium-sized reservoirs and the Sirindhorn Dam, which are under his management, now stands at 75 percent of their total capacity.

Pongsak noted he is confident that the volume of water will be adequate for agricultural activities during this year's dry season and is counting for more rain in May to replenish the water reserve.

Meanwhile, farmers outside the irrigation areas have submitted a request to the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to dispatch water trucks to drought-stricken areas to relieve locals' plight.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Assets of New Thai Ministers Announced

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission reports the assets of new Cabinet ministers who took office in January. A deputy prime minister is the richest among all the newly-appointed ministers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....ters-announced/

[webfact]

Govt Denies VAT Hike Plan

BANGKOK: -- The finance minister assures that the government has no plan to raise the value-added tax from the current level of seven percent at this time.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong said besides the extension of the excise tax cut for diesel set to expire at the end of this month, the government is in the process of considering other measures to reduce people's cost of living.

Kittirat affirmed that the government was earlier set to discuss a possible increase in the value-added tax in September, but has decided to keep the rate unchanged at seven percent.

He noted that the seven-percent VAT is considered a suitable level, even though it is the lowest VAT rate in the world and added an increase in VAT means an immediate increase in goods prices that would adversely affect consumers.

The deputy premier also commented on the push for the land and building tax law, still under the consideration of the House, saying it's not included in the government's urgent policies.

Kittirat added the law must be carefully considered as land is an asset that cannot generate a regular income for owners. Hence, the tax collection may cause burden for land owners who have no regular income.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

Cambodia Affirms Jailed Thai Activist in Good Health

BANGKOK: -- Cambodia affirms a Thai activist held in its prison for encroaching on its territory is still in good health and has adequate health care.

The move was in response to a statement by Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn, claiming Thai activist Veera Somkwamkid is severely ill with jaundice which has left him unable to walk.

Veera has been sentenced to prison by the Cambodian Court along with his colleague Ratree Pipattanapaiboon on charges of intruding on its territory and espionage.

The commander of Prey Sar Prison insisted Veera is still able to walk and engage in the usual prison routine as other inmates do. The commander maintained his prison provides adequate health care to the jailed Thai activist and his health is checked every morning.

He said Veera is also being taken care of by the Thai Foreign Ministry and the Thai embassy in Cambodia while his mother is always given convenience when visiting her son.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichakchaikul said he has no idea about the report that fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is residing in a neighboring country. Surapong said every Thai embassy must report to him if the former premier is in its host country.

In the meantime, Pheu Thai party-list MP Sunai Chulapongsathorn said his planned visit to Cambodia tomorrow is not to meet with Thaksin but is to engage in a discussion with Cambodian agencies over the two countries' border affairs.

However, Sunai said if he has a chance, he would seek to meet the fugitive premier as well as Veera and Ratree at the Prey Sar Prison.

He commented that Thaksin's suggested setting up of a fund to provide Cambodians with medical services in Thailand will not hurt the country's health care scheme.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-15

[webfact]

SET index closed at 1171.34, up 6.98; Bt/USD30.69; GBP47.92; AUD31.94; EUR39.88; CAD30.74; HKD3.95; SGD24.07; JPY36.34

[webfact]

Eight red-shirt leaders in Khon Kaen jailed and fined Bt29 million

BANGKOK: -- The Court of Appeals on Thursday found eight red-shirt leaders guilty for torching a Bangkok Bank branch in Khon Kaen in connection with the political disturbances in 2010.

Full story:

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Friday 16 Mar 2012