Thailand Live Thursday 29 Mar 2012

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Phuket hookahs feel the squeeze

Some of the than 50 officers who took part in the raids test the counter for traces of harder drugs. Photo: Warisa Temram

One of the hookah water pipes and a package of 'sisha' flavored tobacco that was seized in the raid. Photo: Warisa Temram

PHUKET: -- Police raided three hookah bars Tuesday night as worries mount that flavored tobaccos are becoming a gateway drug for Phuket youths.

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EXAT to waive tolls during Songkran

BANGKOK, 29 March 2012 (NNT) - National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Vichean Potephosree presided over a meeting of the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) executive board to discuss waiving toll fees for commuters during the Songkran festival.

Pol-Gen Vichean, in his capacity as EXAT board president, said the meeting agreed to waive tolls on three expressways namely Burapa Withi (Bangkok-Chonburi), the elevated expressway south of Suvarnabhumi airport and the Bang Phli - Suk Sawat Expressway, for five days, starting from 00.01 am of April 12 to the midnight of April 16.

He said the aim of the toll exemption is to accommodate motorists who wish to visit their hometowns during the festival.

Meanwhile, Wanchai Phakluck, Director-General of the Department of Highways, said commuters will also be exempt from paying tolls for use of the Bangkok-Chon Buri motorway and the Bang Pa-in - Bang Phli outer ring road for seven days starting from 4pm on April 10 to the midnight of April 16.

Mr Wanchai added that in order to further facilitate public journey, the department will set up service points to provide information to motorists.

The meeting forecasted a total revenue loss of about 105 million baht due to the toll exemption.

-- NNT 2012-03-29

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Phuket International Boat Show launches amid fanfare

PIMEX organizer Andy Dowden (left) leads Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa on a tour of the boats on show at Royal Phuket Marina. Photo: Christian Mouchet

Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa (right) joins PIMEX organizer Andy Dowden (center) and Bangonrat Shinaprayoon (left), the director of the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in cutting the ribbon. Photo: Christian Mouchet

PHUKET: -- The Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) at Royal Phuket Marina was officially launched at 11am today with the cutting of the ribbon by Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa.

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Something fishy going on at Phuket docks

Pongjit Getrat hands the letter of complaint to Phuket Damrongtham Center Director Prapan Kanprasang. Photo: Warisa Temram

PHUKET: -- Tired and angry over the stench and pollution causing serious health problems and driving away business from a local shipyard, a group of dockside residents in Rassada yesterday morning filed a complaint against a Phuket fish-meal factory.

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Reconciliation Panel Chief Stands By Proposed Amesty

BANGKOK: -- The reconciliation panel chief maintains he will not pull out the controversial report suggesting amnesty for the ousted premier to rebuild unity from the Parliament, given he has no authority to do so.

Chairman for the House's ad-hoc committee on national reconciliation General Sonthi Boonyaratklin said the removal of the King Prachadhipok Institute's report on unity rebuilding from the Parliament must be decided by majority of his panel's members.

Sonthi said he is not worried his action will lead to a military coup and said he is ready to comply with the suggestions in the institute's reconciliation report.

He declined to comment about the suggestion by Chart Thai Pattana's chief adviser Sanan Kajornprasart that fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is seeking a dialogue with Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda over the way to rebuild national unity.

Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Natthawut Saikua, also a red-shirt core leader, said he agrees with Sanan's recommendation.

He said he disagreed with the removal of the reconciliation report from the Parliament's deliberation while asking the opposition Democrat Party to cease using political tactics for its own gain.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-29

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Russian criminal gang is engaging in money laundering,casino business in Phuket w/ aid from local officials, MP Chuwit Kamolwsit said /The Nation

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Bt300 wage hike projected to slightly spur growth: Academic

BANGKOK, MARCH 29 -- Implementation of the government's Bt300 (US$10) national daily minimum wage policy, which will take effect Sunday (April 1) in the first seven provinces, is projected to help boost the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.5-0.6 per cent annually, according to the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Following activation of the new minimum wage, approximately 3.5-5 million labourers will earn more income--about Bt60 per day each, UTCC Economic and Business Forecasting Center director Thanawat Polwichai, told a news briefing on Thursday.

Some Bt7-9 billion (US$230-300 million), was expected to be circulated monthly, which will help spur the country’s economic growth by 0.5-0.6 per cent.

However, the higher capital cost due to the wage hike was likely to force entrepreneurs to increase goods prices by 5-10 per cent in the second half of the year, Mr Thanawat explained.

Dr Tanawat predicted that numbers of new jobs will be only slightly generated as entrepreneurs use more machines in order to offset the more highly paid labour force. Some industrial companies might relocate their production base in Thailand to low-wage neighbouring countries.

An impact of the minimum wage increase on overall employment could be realised in the next three years. Currently, around three million workers are still needed in various sectors, the academic said.

Dr Thanawat cited a recent survey by the centre among 1,237 respondents showing most of those surveyed had more debt owing to the higher cost of living and rising goods prices rather than last year's flood crisis. About 61 per cent said the current cost of living was much higher than their increasing incomes and that ate into their savings.

He also raised concerns that workers earning less than Bt10,000 a month have had problems in repaying debt in the past year. With an average debt of nearly 170,000 baht per household and being obliged to pay monthly installments averaging nearly 11,000 baht—considerably more than their overall incomes.

The higher cost of living will negatively impact consumer confidence and the country’s overall economy thanks to less consumer spending.

Consumer worries about the growing cost of living, if they persist, means that economic recovery will not be possible in the third quarter as earlier expected, the UTCC academic warned. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-29

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RT@RichardBarrow: Full dress rehearsal for royal funeral procession on Saturday. 16 roads around Sanam Luang will be closed all morning.

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Phuket pyre flames B182mn of pirated goods

Phuket Gazette –

Pirated goods valued at more than 182 million baht were shoveled into the Phuket Town incinerator. Photo: Orawin Narabal

POUND FOR POUND: Deputy Commerce Minister Bhumi Saraphol hammers his ‘Stop Piracy’ campaign slogan home – Buy original! Photo: Orawin Narabal

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/544321-phuket-pyre-flames-b182mn-of-pirated-goods/page__view__findpost__p__5175424

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Thailand Live Friday 30 Mar 2012