Thailand Live Tuesday 3 Apr 2012

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Thailand Live Tuesday 3 April 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 Monday 2 Apr 2012

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Suspected bombers identified in South

The Nation

Two suspected bombers walk in an underground parking lot of the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hat Yai before a car bomb exploded there on Saturday in this video grab released by police yesterday. Both men, about 170cm tall, are seen in the surveillance footagage.

Full story:

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PM Yingluck: We will return happiness to Hat Yai

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visits a woman at Songkhla Nagarind Hospital in Hat Yai yesterday who was seriously injured in Saturday

HAT YAI: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra flew into Hat Yai yesterday morning - two days after a tremendous blast ripped through a major hotel - to inspect the scene, console the victims and spur on investigating officials.

Full story:

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Hat Yai and Yala bombings not a long-term threat to tourism: TAT

BANGKOK: -- Saturday's bomb blasts in Hat Yai and Yala, which killed 14 people and injured more than 500 others, will damage tourists' sentiment in the short term, but the country is expected to maintain its status as a leading tourist destination in the long run and attract at least 20 million foreign visitors this year, according to the Tourism Department.

Full story:

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ELECTION CAMPAIGN'S PROMISE

Wage rise will sink 10 pct of SMEs: Thai Chamber of Commerce

BANGKOK: -- At least 10 per cent of the 2.2 million SMEs in the country - about 200,000 - would be forced to shut down or move out to other countries within half a year after the minimum wage was bumped up to Bt300 this month, a leading businessman has claimed.

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KING PRAJADHIPOK'S INSTITUTE

KPI to consider withdrawing report to House

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI) is likely to discuss today whether to withdraw its study of the causes of political conflicts and possible reconciliation measures, submitted earlier to the House panel on national reconciliation, the institute's chief said yesterday.

KPI secretary general Prof Borwornsak Uwanno said he was unaware of speculation that institute researchers involved with the study might withdraw or suspend the controversial research results.

He declined to comment on the matter and said he would wait for a clear stance from the researchers.

The research team met yesterday but it was unknown whether they discussed the matter. The KPI council is due to convene today.

The institute is an academic organisation under the supervision of Parliament.

Critics and Opposition politicians have called for the withdrawal of the study findings, based partly on interviews with politicians and activists involved in the conflict in recent years.

They say the study's findings have been cited selectively by the majority of the House panel, headed by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, with the hidden goal of whitewashing certain politicians' wrongdoing.

Dr Tul Sitthisomwong, a leader of the multicoloured-shirts group, said yesterday that his group would hold a protest outside Parliament tomorrow, when the House of Representatives is expected to convene a meeting to debate the Sonthi panel's proposals.

He said his group would oppose any attempt to distort the KPI study for political benefit.

"It is likely the research results may be distorted in order to issue an amnesty law in the guise of a reconciliation law for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Our protest is a warning to the ruling politicians that an attempt to whitewash Thaksin's wrongdoing will lead to a lengthy and large protest," said Tul, who is an obstetrician at Chulalongkorn Hospital.

Meanwhile, founding KPI member Marut Bunnag suggested yesterday that the institute withdraw the reconciliation report submitted to the House panel. He expressed concern that it would be distorted and used as a tool.

Marut, a senior member of the opposition Democrat Party, said the KPI had compiled a report listing pros and cons of potential reconciliation methods but the House panel headed by Sonthi would select only certain proposals for use.

As a result, he said, the KPI should withdraw the report to maintain its credibility.

He said selective use of certain proposals from the reconciliation report - instead of adopting the entire study - would damage the institute's reputation.

-- The Nation 2012-04-03

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RECONCILIATION

TRCT rues slow reconciliation process

THE NATION

Calls for cooperation and impartiality from all parties in political conflict; urges changes to lese majeste law

BANGKOK: -- The Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) has renewed its call for open-mindedness and collective efforts to bring back political peace - a process it laments is moving slower than expected.

Full report click

The commission, in its latest report issued yesterday, also suggested changes to the lese majete |law to prevent it from being used |as a political tool and to make |penalties for violations more appropriate.

Reiterating its stances on fairer treatment of political suspects and prisoners, the commission insisted that true reconciliation can only be achieved through impartiality and the participation of all parties concerned, be it the government, the Opposition, academics, the media, military or other groups.

"[impartiality] is an important element in creating an environment in which people on all sides - individuals, agencies, networks and others - especially the two groups in conflict, can talk together and exchange ideas in a peaceful manner either through informal discussions or in more formal meetings. It is in this way that a solution to this conflict will be found," it said.

"The TRCT is aware that the progress of reconciliation is not moving forward as had been expected. This may be due to the lack of cooperation by the government, agencies and other stakeholders," it said.

The call for impartiality and cooperation comes amid renewed animosity between both sides of the political divide as the government's "reconciliation" push in Parliament has been branded insincere. The ruling party has been accused of trying to use its parliamentary superiority to forge a reconciliation blueprint that is lopsided.

The TRCT also touched on the issue of the lese majeste law, acknowledging that it has been |used as a political tool at times, |but also pointing out that debate on the subject is causing more division and probably delaying reconciliation.

"The arguments have further deepened the conflict between the [two sides]. The TRCT has therefore presented a recommendation to the prime minister and all parties in the political dispute explaining that removing this offence from the Criminal Code is not appropriate within the context of current Thai society. However, at the same time, keeping it in its present form is an obstruction to reconciliation," the commission said.

The TRCT called for modification of the lese majeste law so that violations are offences "requiring authorisation" before criminal proceedings can commence, and are punishable by a prison sentence not exceeding seven years or a fine not exceeding Bt14,000, or both.

According to the TRCT, the complexities of Thailand's political crisis involve 1) inequalities in the structure of power; 2) management and attitude of the military; 3) the role of society, culture, history and identity; 4) law enforcement; and 5) using communication media as a tool for broadcasting ideology.

-- The Nation 2012-04-03

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ASEAN SUMMIT

Thai-Cambodian group to discuss border security

PHNOM PENH: -- Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul yesterday briefed his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa about compliance with the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s order for all troops to pull back from disputed areas around Preah Vihear Temple on the border with Cambodia.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Everyone has to pay their fair share of revenue: Thai opinion

Full story:

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Four days for Songkran

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Civil servants will have four days off work over Songkran, and will not get an extra day off on April 17, when they will be due to return to work.

The official Songkran period is Friday, April 13 to Monday, April 16, inclusive.

PM's Office deputy spokesman Pakdihan Himathongkam said they had received a number of inquiries from officials at various agencies seeking clarification on whether the Cabinet would include April 17 as part of the Songkran break. But the issue was not raised during the Cabinet meeting today, he said.

Under the law, civil servants are entitled to a consecutive four-day holiday. Therefore, they will have only four days off for the Thai New Year, and will resume work on April 17, Pakdihan said.

-- The Nation 2012-04-03

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BMA plans Songkran activities across Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Besides water wars, many tamer Songkran celebrations will be on offer at places across Bangkok, such as City Hall, with the bathing of the Phra Phuttasihing statue and other Buddha images, and alms-giving for 185 monks.

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Thailand's DSI finds prescriptions abused in civil service health scheme

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Finance Ministry have uncovered corruption in the dispensing of medicine to members of the civil service healthcare scheme, officials said.

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Thai govt to re-examine emergency health scheme this week

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry will evaluate the government health care scheme providing unlimited emergency medical treatment to all Thais on Thursday.

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Cash shortfall at state hospitals sparks budget probe: Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Many state-run hospitals upcountry suffered a cash flow problem in the past 2-3 years to the point of near bankruptcy.

Full story:

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TV campaign to help cut power use

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Energy Ministry will air a television campaign about saving electricity on April 10, from 2pm to 3pm.

In the programme, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will turn off one bulb at Government House to make a symbolic start, after which other government agencies will follow suit.

A giant screen will show a graph line illustrating how elec?tricity consumption drops dur?ing the TV campaign also, according to deputy govern?ment spokesman Pakdiharn Himathongkham.

"People will then be able to see clear results," he said.

The campaign follows a move by the Cabinet to reduce electricity consumption by 10 per cent.

"We have to prevent the risk of power blackout," Pakdiharn said.

The risk will come between April 8 and April 17 when Myanmar's Yetagun field will be unable to supply natural gas to Thailand because related facil?ities will be undergoing main?tenance.

"During that period, we have to find alternative sources of fuel," the spokesman explained.

To ease the burden, Pakdiharn said the Energy Ministry decided to conduct the campaign on April 10.

He said Cabinet members had started saving energy by removing their jackets and set?ting air-conditioners at 25 degrees Celsius when they attended the Cabinet meeting yesterday.

-- The Nation 2012-04-03

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Police forward report on Feb 14 attacks

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police forwarded their 2,044-page report on the investigation into the Valentine's Day explosions in Bangkok to public prosecutors on Friday.

The state prosecutors are attached to the Bangkok South Criminal Court, which covers the area around Pridi Banomyong Road where the triple bomb blasts occurred, Pol Maj-General Anuchai Lekbamrung said yesterday.

He gave no details on how many of the five Iranian suspects earlier identified by police were implicated in the report.

Police were certain that Masoud Sedaghatzadeh, who is now in Malaysian police custody, would be handed to Thai police for prosecution.

"We will get him, for sure," he added.

Besides Sedaghatzadeh, the four other Iranian suspects include two in Thai police custody - Saeib Morabi, who lost both legs when one of his two alleged grenade attacks backfired and is now recovering in a hospital, and Mohammad Hazai, who was nabbed by police at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Javad Nikkahfard, the suspected bombmaker, is on the run and a woman, Rohanni Laila, the suspected logistics arranger, has reportedly returned to Iran.

-- The Nation 2012-04-03

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Pattaya named model city for meetings, exhibitions

PATTAYA: -- The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has made Pattaya the MICE City role model for all key destinations in the Kingdom, such as Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Full story:

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Army chief says Thailand facing 3,000 militants

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....c-to-not-panic/

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RT @RichardBarrow: The footpath on Rama 3 Road collapsed by about 2 meters damaging some mains water pipes - TR @Dr_Prawut

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Rama III Road footpath collapses, nearly 3 metres subsidence

BANGKOK: -- Rama III Road footpath collapses, nearly 3 metres subsidence, 10 metres long; tap water pipeline damaged; authorities rush to inspect.

-- TNA 2012-04-03

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PM attends ASEAN Summit in Cambodia, to raise illicit drug suppression, haze problems as regional bloc agenda /MCOT

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,205.82, up 6.73 points /MCOT

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No increase in train tickets from Hat Yai to Malaysia: Bernama

HAT YAI: -- There has been no increase in train ticket purchases by Malaysian tourists to return home from Hat Yai nor cancellation of tickets from Malaysia to Hat Yai following the bomb explosion in the Thai southern city of Hat Yai last Saturday.

-- TNA 2012-04-03

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Industrial Council Fears Bombing Incidents Affect Tourism

BANGKOK: -- The Federation of Thai Industries fears that Saturday's bomb blasts in southern Thailand could affect the confidence of local residents and tourists.

It is also calling for extension of investment privileges for projects in three southernmost provinces for another five years.

Federation of Thai Industries, or FTI, Chairman Payungsak Chartsutthipol, said Saturday's bombings in three southern provinces of Songkhla, Yala, and Pattani could cause great concerns among local residents and tourists although the impact on investment is still limited.

He acknowledged that relevant government agencies have been doing their best to solve the years-long violence, but said more concrete measures are needed to prevent possible future attacks.

Payungsak added that the FTI will ask the government to extend investment privileges for projects in the three southernmost provinces to another five years to bolster local investor confidence.

Prasert Boonsamphan, who chairs a sub-committee on private cooperation and confidence building, said the bomb attacks will definitely affect tourism and all agencies concerned must also work together to find solutions and implement measures other than a crackdown.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-03

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Consumer Confidence Index Hits 6-Month High in March

BANGKOK: -- The March consumer confidence hits a six month high after last year's flooding due to the government's economic stimulus measures.

Director for the Economic and Business Forecasting Center of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Thanawat Polwichai said the Consumer Confidence Index has increased in four consecutive months from 65.5 in February to 67.4 in March, a record high in six months.

Thanawat attributed the upturn to four factors, namely the Cabinet's approval of economic relief programs, the unchanged benchmark interest rate at three percent, the increase of the Fiscal Policy Office's economic growth prediction to 5.5 percent from five percent, and the slight baht appreciation.

He said the worrying conditions for consumers are the rising oil price, the high cost of living, the goods' price hike, the imbalance between income and expenditure, the fragile global economy, and the nation's political uncertainty.

Thanawat suggested the government's accelerated implementation of fiscal programs through state spending and expansionary monetary policy resulting in credit growth should help spur confidence in the second quarter.

He said consumer confidence and the public's spending will be restored from the latter part of the second quarter onward while the economy should grow 5.5 to 6.5 percent this year.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-03

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DSI Meets with 9 Agencies on Cold Pill Scandal

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation meets with nine government agencies to discuss approaches about a probe into the case of smuggling pseudoephedrine-based medicine out of hospitals.

Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, Director-General Tharit Pengdit called a meeting of nine relevant agencies regarding the disappearance of medicines containing pseudoephedrine from public and private hospitals to determine an investigation framework.

The nine agencies consist of the Food and Drug Administration, the Public Health Ministry, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Office of Narcotics Control Board, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Forensic Science Division, the Central Institute of Forensic Science, and local police stations within the areas where the scandal was reported.

The meeting resolved that six criminal offenses could be brought against the perpetrators, according to the Drug Act, the Psychotropic Substance Act, the Narcotics Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and the Measure of Narcotic Suppression Act.

Tharit said his agency will take an proactive approach in inspecting hospitals, particularly the private-owned ones, while the Central Institute of Forensic Science Division and the Forensic Science Division will jointly look into empty medicine packages seized earlier.

Yesterday, Kriengsak Watcharanukulkiat, chairman of the rural doctors club, submitted a letter to the DSI chief calling for a speedy probe into the matter.

Citing preliminary findings, he said that the smuggling was carried out by low-ranking officials and orchestrated by senior officials.

Kriengsak suggested that the suspected low-ranking officials be made as witnesses and question the transparency in the investigation conducted by the Public Health Ministry due to a double-standard practice.

He alleged that the director of the Udon Thani Central Hospital did not face disciplinary actions like those at Kamalasai Hospital in Kalasin and Bhusingha Hospital in Sri Sa Ket.

Tharit affirms full and fair investigation and only criminal charges will be filed against suspects.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-03

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Opposition Leader Requests Govt for Effective Solutions in the Southern Unrest

BANGKOK: -- The Opposition Leader encouraged the prime minister to review the government's policy in solving the southern unrest, commenting that she should utilize her efforts to create unity to drive the policy forward.

Opposition Party Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva praised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra for her enthusiasm to fly South to follow up on the car bomb attack at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Songkhla's Hat Yai District as well as paying a visit to bomb victims at Hat Yai Hospital.

The PM initially said she has no plans to visit the area, as she does not want to take officers off the case to provide security for her visit.

In response, Abhisit said he do not know the reason why Yingluck promptly changed her mind.

He suggested the premier to deploy a back-up police unit if she fears for her safety.

Moreover, the Opposition leader suggested the prime minister to review the policy proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha regarding the Southern insurgency and foster cooperation between government officers in charge of security affairs.

He warned the government that the southern insurgency is a delicate matter.

Abhist placed concern that most officers in charge of security affairs gave inappropriate remarks about the situation during press interviews, which could lead to more violence.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut encouraged the government to be sincere about solving the problem, rather than playing politics.

He reiterated that the blast victims should receive compensation at the same rate of which the red shirt rally victims gained.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-03

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More than 2.8 Bln Bht Expected in Circulation this Songkran

BANGKOK: -- The Kasikorn Research Center expects that over 28 billion baht would be generated by Bangkokians during the approaching Songkran Festival.

The Kasikorn Research Center or KRC reported a recent survey on the spending of Bangkok residents during the upcoming Songkran Holiday, pointing out that total spending is expected to surpass 28.5 billion baht, an increase of seven percent on a yearly basis.

Even though the public is struggling to cope with the rising costs of living owing to the goods' price hike as well as surging fuel costs, consumer spending is on the rise, as many Bangkokians still have high purchasing power and could handle increasing expenditures.

The KRC pointed out that Bangkok residents maintain great purchasing power since the country's economy is recovering in the wake of last year's flood crisis.

Consumer confidence is on an uptrend, resulting in more people going out and finding activities to relieve their tension from last year's mega disaster.

As for the Southern insurgency that affected Songkhla's Hat Yai Province prior to the Songkran festival, the KRC insisted that it is definitely damaging the Southern tourism atmosphere in the short term since the number of tourists are anticipated to decline.

Malaysian tourists are the main tourist group visiting the area.

However, the Bangkokians' spending will not be dampened by the southern insurgencies since Hat Yai District is not their main tourist spot.

The research indicated that although there are only four days off work over Songkran, a highly increasing number of people, compared to last year's figure, are determined to leave the capital for other provinces and going abroad the country.

The KRC said 10.3 million baht or 36.1 percent of circulated money would be generated from up-country folks who wish to return back to their home provinces during the holiday.

Activities and traveling within the capital would generate up to 6.5 billion baht or 22.8 percent, while domestic traveling in other provinces would generate an income of six billion baht or 21.1 percent.

In addition, 5.7 billion baht or 20 percent of all circulating fund would flow out of the country due to abroad traveling.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-03

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Thai Airways brings WiFi, mobile phone services to the sky

Passengers will soon be able to make calls, use Facebook and tweet about their meals. Just like being in the office, really

Expect a surge of Instagram shots of airplane wings and inflight meals when Thai Airways launches its new on-board connectivity services later this year.

Full story: