Thailand Live Sunday 18 Mar 2012

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Thailand Live Sunday 18 March 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news, national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 17 Mar 2012

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[Lite Beer]

Chalerm wants drug runners executed faster

Jessada Chuntraruk,

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation on Sunday

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541583-chalerm-wants-drug-runners-executed-faster/page__view__findpost__p__5143124

[Lite Beer]

Free bus, train services to be extended

The Nation on Sunday

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the free bus and train services and free electricity will be extended while the number of Blue Flag shops selling inexpensive products will be increased to help alleviate the problem of price rises faced by the people.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541585-free-bus-train-services-to-be-extended/page__view__findpost__p__5143130

[Lite Beer]

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

'Giant killer' Ruangkrai wants to be Pheu Thai MP

The Nation on Sunday

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541587-giant-killer-ruangkrai-wants-to-be-pheu-thai-mp/page__view__findpost__p__5143136

[Lite Beer]

'PM should probe worker deal'

The Nation on Sunday March 18, 2012 1:00 am

BANGKOK:-- Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap could be taken to task by the Opposition over his move to scrap a plan to send Thai workers to Israel, a deal signed during the Democrat-led government.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541588-pm-should-probe-worker-deal/page__view__findpost__p__5143143Full Story:

[Lite Beer]

Red Bull's Chaleo a business genius

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: Country's third richest man passes away at 90; hailed for strong values

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541593-red-bulls-chaleo-a-business-genius/

[Lite Beer]

Alms giving of 22,600 monks around Central World, Siam Paragon and Pratunam area until 9am; roads closed to traffic ​/TAN_Network

New Phra Nangklao Bridge closed to traffic from 9am-3pm for electrical cable work /TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Cabinet to mull tablet plan Tuesday

JEERAPONG PRASERTPOLKRUNG

THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541595-cabinet-to-mull-tablet-plan-tuesday/page__view__findpost__p__5143166

[Lite Beer]

Elephants checked at sites in Phuket

The Nation on Sunday March 18, 2012 1:00 am

Police from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division have confirmed that 27 out of 37 elephants seized from elephant camps in Phuket for inspection have the same identity as that stated in their official papers.

Police seized the 37 elephants from four camps for inspection on February 27. Of the 27 "confirmed" elephants, nine belong to At Hill Adventure Tours 2009 camp and other 18 are owned by Siam Safari Nature Tours camp.

Police will later review the ID papers and identity of eight tuskers at ATV Seaview on Tour camp because it did not provide enough documents. Meanwhile, Laguna Excursions camp has asked police to postpone the inspection of its two elephants till late this month.

Police said they were checking if a calf owned by ATV Seaview on Tour was a wild elephant as its mother was believed to be wild beast, while a court has ordered Laguna Excursions to pay a Bt2,500 fine for possessing a calf wrongly - as an elephant believed to be its mother was taken wrongly.

Half a dozen elephants have been killed in recent months, prompting claims that poachers are killing parents to they can catch and sell baby elephants to tourist facilities.

-- The Nation 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

Homes destroyed in Si Sa Ket storm

The Nation on Sunday

SI SA KET:-- Summer storms have destroyed more than 300 homes in Si Sa Ket's Muang, Bueng Bun, Phrai Bueng and Pho Si Suwan districts and 30 residences in Muang district in Sakon Nakhon.

The homes in Si Sa Ket were damaged after the storm and a heavy downpour hit the district on Friday night.

Si Sa Ket governor Prateep Kiratirekha would give Bt30,000 in compensation to each family whose house was wholly destroyed and Bt20,000 to resi?dents whose houses were partly destroyed.

-- The Nation 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

Dust expected to get worse in North

The Nation on Sunday

CHIANG RAI:-- Small dust particles were likely to increase in the North, especially in Mae Ai district in Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son provinces, Phadon Thawornkritcharat, head of Lamphun Natural Resources and Environment Office, said yesterday.

He said two measuring stations in both provinces found that PM10 dust exceeded the accepted safety level of 120 micrograms per cubic metre, which could affect people's health. PM10 dust particles ranged from 59 to 167 micrograms per cubic metre over 25 hours.

-- The Nation 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

Don't hunt the tiger, Surin officials warn

The Nation on Sunday

Authorities in Surin have urged residents not to try to catch a tiger that previously killed their cattle, saying it could be unsafe to do that.

Muang district chief Sanchai Kongthalerngsiriwattana said that locals should not enter Ta Heep forest at night, where the tiger is believed to live. Officials would catch the tiger as soon as possible, with the aim of taking it to an appropriate forest.

Prasit Chaikla, head of tam?bon Tenmi, said the tiger killed and ate a buffalo and a number of chickens on March 5 and on March 14 - last Wednesday - it killed a cow.

He said officials warned locals not to hunt or kill the tiger, as that was illegal and dangerous.

The Ta Heep forest covers some 3,000 rai and extends over two tambons in Surin.

-- The Nation 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

SOUTH CIVILIAN DEATHS

'Misunderstanding led to shootings'

Thoranit Pirunlaong

The Nation on Sunday

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541597-misunderstanding-led-to-shootings/page__view__findpost__p__5143192

[Lite Beer]

Government to launch One Blue Flag, One Community project to rein in rising costs

BANGKOK, 18 March 2012 (NNT) - The government is set to launch a special project to tackle the problem of rising goods prices across the country.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in her weekly TV show “Government Meets the People” on Saturday, unveiled the government’s steps to solve the much criticized high cost of living.

The PM insisted that, compared with data from the fourth quarter of 2012, the current prices of goods are considered cheaper.

The Premier went on to explain that goods price rise has been chiefly attributed by last year's severe flooding that caused disruption at various factories and shortages of many items.

However, as production continued to be restored across all flood-hit plants, PM Yingluck is confident that the situation will be back to normal from June.

And in order to help tackle the impact of higher goods prices, the prime minister said the Commerce Ministry is planning to launch a special project, titled “One Blue Flag, One Community” that will enable the public to choose reasonably-priced consumer goods, tentatively before the end of this month.

In addition, PM Yingluck said that the government will try to shoulder the pressure of rising energy prices at least until the middle of this year, while expressing hope that the situation will ease in the second half of 2012.

-- NNT 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

Pathumwan Demonstration School on Henry Dunant Rd holds 7th grade admission test for 4,000 students until noon /TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

PM: Japan trip successful in boosting investor confidence

BANGKOK, 18 March 2012 (NNT) - The prime minister has affirmed that the recent road show to Japan has been a success for the government in boosting the investor’s confidence.

During the weekly “Government Meets the People” TV program on Saturday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that her recent official visit to Japan during 6-9 March allowed the Thai government to talk directly with Japanese investors who have been affected by last year's severe flooding.

The PM affirmed that Thailand's clarification on the water resources management plan and the various assistance programs for affected businesses has convinced Japanese investors about the country's readiness to deal with future disaster.

She added that many Japanese companies, which have fallen prey to the flood crisis, have assured the Thai delegation that they will not move their production out of Thailand while some stated that they were planning to expand their production base in the country.

The Premier went on to say that the Japanese government has provided Thailand with an 8-billion-yen grant to be used in the building of a flood prevention system for the country's industrial estates while Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will send its technology experts to help in the water management program.

-- NNT 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

Summer storms hit Prachuap Khirikhan, Trang, some houses damaged; strong winds, thunderstorms forecast in NE, E /MCOT

PM leads Buddhists to give food to 22,600 monks in morning alms at CentralWorld, Pratunam, Siam /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: Phuket land probes ‘a plus’ for Phuket

Phuket Gazette –

The National Justice Fairy strikes again...

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541613-phuket-opinion-phuket-land-probes-a-plus-for-phuket/page__view__findpost__p__5143544

[Lite Beer]

ABAC Poll: 92% of respondents see necessity of Constitution and Adminstrative courts; 80% wants politicians to be heroic /TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Chiang Mai resumes rain making operation Sunday after haze again exceeds safety limit /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

PM to chair mobile cabinet meeting in Phuket

BANGKOK, 18 March 2012 (NNT) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her ministerial entourage are scheduled to visit the southern provinces of Phang-nga and Phuket on Monday, March 19, before attending the third mobile cabinet meeting in the island province of Phuket on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister will leave Bangkok for Phuket international airport at 8.30 a.m. and, thereafter, will clarify the government policy on the Thai Women Empowerment Fund to woman organizations in the South, official units and related bodies at Mukdara Beach Villa & Spa Resort in Phang Nga.

Later in the day, the premier will inspect a construction site for a Tsunami memorial monument at Ban Bang Niang village in Phang-nga before heading to Phuket.

In Phuket, Prime Minister Yingluck will first preside over an opening ceremony of OTOP products exhibition held at Saphan Hin park and will conclude the day by chairing a public-private committee meeting on regional economic solutions.

On Tuesday March 20, the premier will chair the third official mobile cabinet meeting, which sets to take place at the Prince of Songkhla University, Phuket Campus and will return to Bangkok after the meeting.

-- NNT 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Government takes a gamble to keep labour on side

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- If the economy hits a bump, effects of Bt300 daily wage will be hard to predict

The anxiety on the part of business owners over the imminent increase in the minimum wage is adding an extra dimension to the problem of rising living costs. The worrying inflation situation, which resulted in a public outcry over rising food prices, prompted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to call an urgent meeting with her economic big guns on Friday. Virtually no measures were announced after the meeting, and it seems that the controversial plan to increase the daily minimum wage to Bt300 will go ahead as planned.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541618-government-takes-a-gamble-to-keep-labour-on-side/page__view__findpost__p__5143689

[Lite Beer]

Finnish tourist behind bars after Phi Phi pub row

Phuket Gazette –

The argument started in the Slinky Bar, but ended outside with a broken beer bottle over a female bar manager's head. Photo: Facebook

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541623-finnish-tourist-behind-bars-after-phi-phi-pub-row/page__view__findpost__p__5143721

[Lite Beer]

Owner confesses to working elephant to death, mutilating carcass

Phuket Gazette –

Seri Srisuj (center) confessed that his elephant 'Plai Boonam' died from exhaustion and that he had cut off the elephant's remaining tusk. Photo: Warisa Temram

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/541212-elephant-butchered-in-krabi/page__view__findpost__p__5143757

[Lite Beer]

Summer storms hit southern provinces, causes some injuries

TRANG, March 18 – Houses and plantations in several southern provinces were ravaged by summer storms over the weekend while some injuries were reported from a collapse of a roof at a plant.

In Trang, the roof of a para rubber processing factory collapsed in a summer storm on Saturday night. Two people remain hospitalised and 14 others who were slightly injured have been discharged from hospital.

About 100 houses and para rubber and palm plantations in four sub-districts were damaged. Villagers were evacuated from their homes last night.

In Surat Thani, more than 30 houses in six villages were damaged and about ten electric poles were felled, causing a blackout in a village of 1,000 households. About 120 acres of para rubber plantation were destroyed. Local authorities have conducted a survey in the damage to help local residents.

In Chumphon’s Lang Suan district, more than ten houses, plantations and orchards were destroyed. Trees were felled on a road but there are no reports of casualties.

Prachuap Khiri Khan governor Veera Sriwattanatrakul on Sunday inspected damages after a severe summer storm hits some areas in Hua Hin district.

Mr Veera together with provincial Red Cross and other relevant officials visited storm-hit zones in three subdistricts after the summer storm and strong winds on Saturday damaged some houses.

In addition, a hailstorm in Nongplup district felled trees on power cable, causing a blackout in many villages. However, no casualties have been reported.

Following the inspection, the governor assigned officials to speed up aid to affected residents.

In the southern province of Satun, a summer storm destroyed about 10 houses in Khuan Don subdistrict. Villagers’ vehicles were also damaged as an electric pole was felled onto their vehicles.

Meanwhile, in the upper part of the country, a hailstorm on Saturday hit some villages in Phetchabun’s Lom Sak district, damaging around 40 houses. The storm also caused a power blackout for four hours. A tree was felled and blocked a road, causing a traffic disruption. The storm was the most severe natural disaster for the past five years.

In the northeastern province of Udon Thani, Saturday’s summer storm caused an advertisement billboard to fall onto cars and a shop in the municipality, with two hours of incessant rainfall as well as a power blackout for hours. Some roads were clogged with water, paralysing traffic. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

Over 20,000 speed pills seized in Phatthalung

PHATTHALUNG, March 18 --- Two suspected drug traffickers on Sunday were arrested with more than 20,000 methamphetamine pill, with a street value worth about Bt5 million (over US$166,000) in the southern province of Phatthalung, according to local police.

Veera Lemmai, 33, and Arnat Lempan, 22, were detained with 24,589 meth pills hidden in a Phatthalung-registered pickup truck, Pol Maj Gen Saksommai Putthakul, chief of Phatthalung provincial police said.

Apart from the illicit drugs, police also impounded two guns and 14 bullets found inside the vehicle, discovered at a police checkpoint on the Asian Highway in Pa Phayom district.

The detainees said that they were hired by their friend in Kong Ra district to deliver the meth pills to customers in Pa Phayom by dropping the pills at a targeted location at a rest area. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

Energy Policy Committee to be made more flexible in adjusting energy prices

BANGKOK, 18 March 2012 (NNT) - The Ministry of Energy is planning to empower the Energy Policy Committee to become more flexible in determining energy price adjustments.

According to Director-General of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) Suthep Liumsirijarern, the Ministry of Energy will propose to the National Energy Policy Council meeting on March 23 to allow the Energy Policy Committee to restructure prices of benzene, diesel, LPG and NGV in line with the current energy situation, instead of making an adjustment on a monthly basis.

The EPPO Director-General said that the energy price adjustment in April depends on the conclusion of this meeting. He added that the move constitutes an attempt to avoid causing greater financial burden to the public, especially in Q1 and Q2 when the economy likely remains worrisome.

-- NNT 2012-03-18

[Lite Beer]

RT@tulsathit: Thirayuth Boonmee has ruled out early reconciliation, attacking "narrowmindedness" of one side and questioning "democracy" of the other.

RT@tulsathit: In 1st political political analysis in a long while, Thirayuth indicates things could get much worse before they can get better.

RT@tulsathit: Thirayuth blames both sides for shallow democracy where nobody invests in giving ppl real education and creating true patriotism.

RT@tulsathit: Thirayuth says he disagrees with efforts to re-invent royal "divinity", but he also attacks Thaksin for viewing voters as his "market".

RT@tulsathit: Thirayuth: I don't believe Thaksin has real faith in grassroot democracy. He's more of a marketing leader than democracy leader.

RT@tulsathit: Thirayuth denounces violent acts by both yellow, red shirts. "No matter how noble of a motive, they caused serious damage."

RT@tulsathit: Thirayuth: Political divide will b prolonged, possibly leading to new rounds of violent protests.

[Lite Beer]

Sakon Nakhon police nab 2 suspects with approx 760,000 meth pills, worth Bt76 mln; Phatthalung police seize 24,000 speed pills /MCOT