Thailand Live Monday 19 Mar 2012

[webfact]

Village protection volunteer killed in Pattani

PATTANI, March 19 - A village protection volunteer was shot dead on Monday in the latest violence in this restive southern province.

The victim was identified as Mama Yamae, 43. He was attacked by two gunmen Monday early morning as he was on patrol in Yaring district.

The assailants, on a motorcycle, shot him and stole the victim's .22 calibre pistol before leaving the scene.

Four .38 calibre shell casings were found at the scene.

More than 5,000 persons, including civilians, security forces, monks, teachers and insurgents have been killed since the insurgency re-erupted in the three Muslim-majority provinces in 2004.

The Cabinet last Tuesday approved further extension of the emergency decree in the three southern border provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala from March 20 to May 19 to facilitate the authorities operations in the insurgency-prone areas.

The Cabinet decision follows a string of daily violent attacks on soldiers and civilians in the insurgency-torn region. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Funeral Held to Commomerate Death of Red Bull Pioneer

BANGKOK: -- Throngs of people gathered to attend the funeral of the founder and pioneer of Red Bull, the world's leading energy drink, after he passed away at 89.

The Kruawal Worawihan Temple on Saturday night was packed with people from several walks of life attending the funeral of Chaliew Yoowithaya, the legendary pioneer of the Krathing Daeng or Red Bull energy drink company.

His body is scheduled to be cremated on March 24th.

The energy drink tycoon of was born to a poor family of Chinese descent in Phi Chit Province. Chaliew left his hometown province at an early age for Bangkok to help his brother run a drug store before becoming a sales representative for a pharmaceutical firm.

Eventually, Chaliew established his own pharmaceutical manufacturing plant and founded a small company selling powder and liquid medicine for children. He then became the creator of the famous Red Bull energy drink in the early 1980s.

Chaliew's Red Bull company became a major breakthrough, so he decided to expand his business overseas by allying with the Austrian businessman Dietrich Mateschitz to become his business partner.

Mateschitz then decided to expand their operations by establishing a main production base for the company in Austria to help promote their product across Europe.

The Red Bull energy drink has gradually gained popularity among customers in the United States and Europe until it has been recognized as one of the world's leading beverage brands.

This year, Chaliew has been named by Forbes Magazine as the world's 260th richest person with a wealth of roughly 5 billion US dollars.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Sinkhole at Rama IV Road not affect subway service: deputy city clerk

BANGKOK: -- The sinkhole on Rama IV road had no effect on the subway service in the area, Deputy Bangkok City Clerk Jumpol Samphaopol said Monday.

The sinkhole, which was about five metres in diameter, or two lanes, and around 2 metres deep, opened up at the Rama IV intersection around 7:45 pm Sunday night.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration managed to filled the hole and pave the road with asphalt and reopened the spot to traffic by 5 am Monday.

Jumpol said the sinkhole would not affect the subway because the system had very good protection system.

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand also announced in a press statement that the sinkhole had no effect on the subway station at the Lumpini Park because the station was about 20 metres underground.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[webfact]

PM Arrived in Phuket for Mobile Cabinet

BANGKOK: -- The prime minister has left for Phuket Province to attend the next Cabinet meeting. She refused to confirm whether the free tablet PC program is on the meeting agenda and shrugged off concerns over possible protests.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said before leaving to attend the Cabinet meeting in Phuket Province that she has not been briefed on the details regarding whether the free tablet PC program will be on the meeting agenda, and referred the issue to the Secretariat of the Prime Minister.

Yingluck also played down concern of possible anti-government protests, saying another purpose of her trip to the South is to meet with the locals.

Regarding a recent comment by Theerayuth Boonmee, a respected academic, that the prime minister only wants publicity and to be photogenic, the government said it's the premier's responsibility to meet with the people.

Meanwhile, about 250 members of the people's network from five Andaman provinces, namely Phuket, Phang-nga, Ranong, Krabi, and Satun provinces demand that the prime minister help preserve the traditional way of life, including their livelihood and lack of documentation.

However, they were fended off by some 150 police officers on the road to the airport. There were no incidents.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Rama IV Road reopens to traffic after crater fixed

BANGKOK, March 19 – A section of Rama IV reopened to traffic Monday morning after a five-metre stretch and one-metre-deep crater was repaired, with municipal engineering specialists scrambling to determine the cause of the unexpected road subsidence.

The crater was filled with asphalt and sheet metal, with the work finishing about 3am Monday, in time for the road to be in use during morning rush hour on the first working day of the week.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra convened a meeting of agencies concerned Monday morning to determine the cause the Rama IV Road subsidence, which occured Sunday night near the Thai-Belgium Bridge intersection at Sathorn and Wireless Roads.

The incident could be linked to the underground rail tracks, sewer lines or underground water pipes, the governor said.

Initially, the authorities believed that sand under the road surface may have been carried off into underground drains. When large vehicles passed by and caused tremblors, vibrating the section of road, it eventually could not withstand the weight and caved in.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor Theerachon Manomaipaiboon said that the underground cavity, which led to the road subsidence, was probably caused by missing sand under the road surface.

Municipal authorities are examining the cause, he said. Three agencies involved in the inspection are the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA), according to Mr Theerachon.

The MRTA will consider if too much underground water in the area was pumped out in management of an underground station while the BMA and the MWA will inspect underground pipes for possible water leakage.

Mr Theerachon said the Public Works Department was assigned to check if other areas are also at risk of similar incident. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-19

[webfact]

SET index midday up 11.80 pts, 0.99 pct

BANGKOK: -- Thati composite stocks index (SET) at midday Monday stood at 1,201.36, up 11.80 points, or 0.99 per cent in line with regional shares amid Bt 20.68 billion turnover.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 847.60, up 9.16 points, or 1.09 per cent.

Top five most active (value) stocks: BBL, TLGF, TRUE, SCB, PTT.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[Lite Beer]

Narcotics Suppression Bureau nabs 5 drug syndicate suspects with 200,000 meth pills worth Bt60 million; 2 others with 6kg 'ice' worth bt18 million in 2 cases

/MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@tukky_nt: Grammy has won broadcast rights for English Championship and Division 1 for 2012-2014 season, starting this September.

[Lite Beer]

PHEU THAI PARTY

Party to hold meeting Tuesday to brief on govt's achievements

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- The Pheu Thai Party will hold a party general assembly on Tuesday to brief its members on the progress of the government's implementation of its urgent policies, caretaker Government Spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said Monday.

Anusorn said party members would be briefed on the progress of the implementation of 16 urgent projects of the government over the past seven months. The party members would be told to inform Pheu Thai's supporters of the progress.

Anusorn said about 35 per cent of the policies had so far been implemented and the government was confident that it would be able to implement all 16 policies within the first year.

Progress had been made on the policies to increase the monthly allowance for the elderly to Bt600 a month, the Bt15,000 minimum salary for university graduates, the tax rebates for first-time car and home buyers and reduction of corporate taxes, Anusorn said.

Anusorn said the government spokesman was also drafting a report on the progress of several projects for the Cabinet to approve to allow the report to be disseminated to the public.

He said the government has so far drafted 10 strategies based on 16 policies that it has announced to Parliament and government agencies concerned will be asked to implement the 10 strategies within the 2013 fiscal year.

He said a total of Bt558.34 million has been allocated from the 2013 fiscal year budget for the 10 strategies.

They included bringing peace back to the deep South, improving the transport system, improving universal healthcare, promoting 10 foods abroad, export of Islamic-certified foods, providing free Wi-Fi Internet nationwide, restructuring the price system of oil and gas, providing credit cards for farmers and taxi drivers, developing alternative energy and promoting SMEs' productions.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[Lite Beer]

SOUTH CRISIS

Village protection volunteer killed in Pattani

PATTANI:-- A village protection volunteer was shot dead on Monday in the latest violence in the restive southern province of Pattani.

The victim was identified as Mama Yamae, 43. He was stationed near a roadside car oil stall on a road in Yaring district when two men on a motorcycle approached him asking about an oil seller. When Mama said the seller was not there, they pulled out the gun and shot him three times.

He died at the scene from gun wounds to the chest, torso and under his right ear. Before escaping, the attackers stole his .22 calibre pistol. Four .38 calibre shell cases were found at the scene.

The Cabinet last Tuesday approved a further extension of the emergency decree in the three southern border provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala from March 20 to May 19 to facilitate operations in these insurgency-prone areas.

The Cabinet decision follows a string of violent attacks on soldiers and civilians in the insurgency-torn region.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[Lite Beer]

Nok Air cancels flights to Mae Hong Son because of poor visibility

Nok Air low-cost Airline canceled two of its flights from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son after the visibility dropped to 500 metres because of smog, the Mae Hon Son airport caretaker director said Monday.

Thanisara Singhakul said Nok Air cancelled its DD8202 and DD8203 flights from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son Monday.

She said the Karn Air from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son was also delayed by many hours while the pilot waited for better visibility.

Thanisara said the airport sprayed water into the air around the airport to try to increase humidity with pone that it would increase visibility.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Humor: Letter From Mr. Tim Cook of the Apple Inc. Re: $100 Billions United States Dollars

Full story:

[webfact]

Apple to announce plans for its $100 billion cash reserves today

Full story:

[webfact]

French couple arrested for allegedly smuggling in two antique statues from Cambodia

The Nation

SA KAEW: -- A French couple were arrested here Monday after customs officials found two statues believed to be antiques smuggled from Cambodia.

Jose Galcera, 69, and his wife, Bezaudin Galcera, 60, were arrested at the Aranyaprathet border checkpoint while crossing from Poi Pet.

The authorities found a 14-inch Ganesha statue and a 16-inch four-faced Brahma statue.

The couple claimed that the statues were imitated ones, not antiques but they were taken into custody pending checking of the statues by the Fine Arts Department.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Water Discharge Plans Adjusted for Drought Season

TAK: -- Water discharge plans of major dams are adapted as a precautionary measure against the upcoming drought period.

Director of the Bhumibol Dam in Tak's Sam-ngao District, Narong Thaiprayoon revealed that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand or EGAT and the Royal Irrigation Department have agreed to review the plan to discharge water from the Bhumibol Dam to correspond with the demand for water in the agricultural sector during the dry season from mid-June to mid-July.

Farmers are expected to increasingly rely on water discharged from the dam during the period.

The Bhumibol Dam has reduced the discharge volume from 60 to 42 million cubic meters a day since March 16.

Narong said as of now, the Bhumibol Dam contains 8.337 billion cubic meters of water or the equivalent of 61.92 percent of its capacity. Yesterday, the water inflow measured 1.71 million cubic meters.

Likewise, water discharge from the Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit Province has been cut to 22 million cubic meters per day.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Phuket sea gypsies mob Thai PM, plead for rights

Paradise island? PM Yingluck Shinawatra listens to the demands of PMOVE protesters after her arrival at Phuket International Airport this morning. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo.

Phuket sea gypsies from the communities in Sapam and Rawai hold up signs pleading for land use rights. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo.

PHUKET: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived at Phuket Airport this morning to be greeted by some 2,000 people protesting the need to protect their land usage rights and preserve traditional livelihoods.

Full story:

[webfact]

Deputy PM Dismisses Possible Coup

BANGKOK: -- The interior minister has assured that there will be no military coup. He added that he believes if former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra returns to Thailand, the country will change for the better.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit denied the speculation of another military coup by Sanya Dharmasakti Institute for Democracy Director Thirayuth Boonmee.

Yongyuth said he does not believe the army will stage a coup as it realizes such a move will not be welcomed by the public.

He also commented on Thirayuth's remark that fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was an influential figure, saying the ex-prime minister is much loved by Thai people.

Yongyuth said Thaksin is well loved by the middle class and grassroots voters in Thailand after he introduced various populist policies aimed at tackling poverty.

Yongyuth stated that he believed that if Thaksin returns to Thailand, the country will change for the better.

As for Thirayuth's criticism of the Pheu Thai Party, the deputy premier said Thirayuth has the right to express opinions.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Chalerm dismisses coup possibility

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung Monday expressed confidence that there would be no more coup as predicted by well-known Thammasat University sociologist Theerayuth Boonme.

Chalerm said the country has been developed too far for another coup to happen. Chalerm said a coup always led to conflicts and caused a post-coup government to be short-lived.

He said the Yingluck Government would not cause violence so there would be no cause for a coup.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Three Giant Snakehead Fish Caught in Ayutthaya

AYUTTHAYA: -- Residents caught three giant snakehead fish weighing in at over 150kg each and are over 2.3 meters long. Locals have flocked to see the fish with their own eyes while big money has already been offered for the giant creatures.

Cherng Saisi, 60 year-old, local from Wang Noi Distrct of Ayutthaya Province went fishing with his neighbor, Weera Hun-in, and 7 other friends this morning. The group usually fish together, not for commercial purposes, but to find enough money or fish to feed their families. They used the normal 3-layer nets to fish and noticed that some unusually large fish were caught in the net. Once the group found out that the catch was too big for the old nets they were using, they bought a new 4-layer net in an attempt to catch the 'big' fish. They didn't know how big the 3 giant snakehead fish were at the time.

Caught in the new bigger net were three giant snakehead fish, the smallest one weighs 30 kilogram. The second largest one weights 70 kilograms and the largest weighs in at 150 kilograms. The biggest one measures at 2.3 meters long and its body has a circumference of 1.17 meters.

A buyer has already offered to buy the smallest fish from Cherngsi at 15,000 baht (USD 500). Offers have also already been made for the other two fish. A merchant from Chatuchak Market has expressed interest to buy the two larger fish. Cherng has agreed to sell the smaller fish for Bt12,000 (USD 400) and the largest snakehead fish for Bt40,000 (USD 1,333).

A large number of locals have also visited the pond where the two larger fish are kept to pay see the giant fish with their own eyes. It's also not usual for some of the more superstitious ones to attempt to 'ask' the fish for winning lottery numbers.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Govt to start compensation package payments in late April for families of those who lost their lives in political violence 2005- 2010 /MCOT

[webfact]

Army urges public not to be worried about coup

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Army Monday urged the public not to be worried about coup possibility although well-known Thammasat University sociologist Theerayuth Boonme has predicted it.

Army Deputy Spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree said the Army now focused on helping the people and supporting the government's policy in fighting against drug trafficking.

The spokesman said the public should not be panicked or worried by comments of academics.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Smog problem in North critical with dust levels high in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai and highest in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai /TANN

Police arrest 3 drug dealers and seized 200,000 speed pills smuggled from across the border and ready to be sold in Pattaya /TANN

BKK governor: Onnuch-Bearing BTS to charge Bt15 from May 1 /TANN

[webfact]

Nakhon Ratchasima Gets First Female Provincial Administration Head

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: -- Former ICT minister Ranongrak Suwanchawee has been elected the first female president of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administration Organization. Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai candidate was defeated in a similar election in Kanchanaburi Province.

Ranongrak Suwanchawee, former ICT minister, has won the election for the presidency of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administration Organization by securing 487,470 votes, defeating the other two candidates by a substantial margin.

Ranongrak is the first female elected to head the provincial administration organization of the province.

Meanwhile in Kanchanaburi Province, Rangsan Rasamirerkset, a Democrat candidate, has defeated Ma Po-ngarm from the Pheu Thai Party in the election for the head of the provincial administration organization. Rangsan won 183,513 votes while Ma got 141,831 votes.

After having learned the results, Ma filed a complaint with Kanchanaburi Election Commission, accusing his opponent of vote-buying. The commission said the investigation will take place in seven days and its findings will be submitted to the National Election Commission.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Senators against Thai Govt's Computer Tablet, iPhone, iPad Handout

BANGKOK: -- A senator is asking the government to reconsider the policy to distribute free computer tablets to first graders. He said there's still a lack of teaching personnel who can use the tablets effectively and the current education curriculum has yet to be developed to be tablet-friendly.

Full story:

[webfact]

BMA to collect Bt15 flat rate for Onnuj-Bearing BTS extension

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will collect a flat-rate fee of Bt15 for the five-stations Onnuj-Bearing BTS extension, starting May 1st, the BMA governor said Monday.

BMA Governor Sukhumbhand Boribatra said the Bangkok Thanakom decided to use the Bt15 rate based on the number of passengers during the trial run period from September 2011 to February.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[webfact]

Slow US, EU Economies Feared to Hurt Thai Export

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Chamber of Commerce secretary-general believes Greece's economy will remain mired in debt despite the International Monetary Fund's 28 billion-euro rescue funding.

He admitted the slow recovery of the US and EU economies will hurt Thai export, especially for the jewelry sector.

Secretary-General of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Vichai Asarasakorn believes the 28 billion-euro rescue fund approved by the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, would not help Greece's economy recover as many international organizations have failed to pull the debt-ridden nation back from the crisis.

He admitted that the dull US and EU economies will directly affect Thailand's export, particularly for jewelry and ornaments, as they are major markets for such products.

However, Vichai expects this year's jewelry export will grow by ten percent to be worth 400 billion baht.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-19

[webfact]

SET index closed at 1189.5, down 0.06; Bt/USD30.58; GBP48.35; AUD32.28; EUR40.12; CAD30.67; HKD3.93; SGD24.15; JPY36.60

[webfact]

Thailand's anti-narcotics police arrest 5 suspects with Bt78 million in drugs

BANGKOK, March 19 – Thailand’s anti-narcotics police arrested five drug trafficking suspects and seized methamphetamine pills as well as crystal methamphetamine with a total street value of Bt78 million (US$2.6 million) in two separate cases.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....llion-in-drugs/

[webfact]

Phuket resort worker dies in motorbike crash

A Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation worker at the scene said, considering the damage to the front of the motorbike, Mr Preeda would have likely survived the crash had he been wearing a high-quality helmet. Photo: Wichai Witthawat

Full story:

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Tuesday 20 Mar 2012