Thailand Live Wednesday 4 Apr 2012

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Thailand Live Wednesday 4 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 Tuesday 3 Apr 2012

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BROADCASTING

Ex-Thaksin lawyer Wichai enters cable-TV arena

Wichai Thongtang, second right, a former lawyer of exprime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in partnership with a Thai Rath executive Vachara Vacharapol, right, are in the press conference of their new business via recently acquired Cable Thai Holding (CTH).

Acquires CTH shares; denies move politically motivated

BANGKOK: -- Wichai Thongtang, a former lawyer of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in partnership with a Thai Rath executive, has leapt into the cable-TV business by acquiring Cable Thai Holding (CTH) shares, aiming to cash in on the company's growth prospects.

Full story:

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Shakespeare must be banned

Photo: Shakespeare Must Die's FB

BANGKOK: -- The Film Board has banned "Shakespeare Must Die" by director Ing K, saying the movie's political content would cause divisions in the country.

"Shakespeare Must Die" is the second Thai movie banned from commercial release under the Film Act of 2008. The first is "Insects in the Backyard" by director Thanwarin Sukkhapisit, which was banned in 2010.

"Shakepeare Must Die" had received support from the Thai Kem Kaeng (Strong Thailand) fund under the Cultural Ministry’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture.

An adaptation of "Macbeth", "Shakespeare Must Die" blended black magic and politics. Ing K previously co-directed the critically acclaimed documentary "Citizen Juling", about the beating death of a teacher in southern Thailand.

An earlier film by her, the controversial "My Teacher Eats Biscuits", was not publicly released in Thailand.

-- The Nation 2012-04-04

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POLITICS

Thai institute warns of 'reconciliation war'

BANGKOK: -- King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI) yesterday strongly advised against a push for the House of Representatives to endorse reconciliation proposals contained in the institute's recent research report for fear of a new round of political violence.

Full story:

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BT300-WAGE RISE

Employers warned on wage hike: Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Employers who have not raised their workers' minimum daily wage to Bt300 after the Sunday deadline will be facing legal action, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare said yesterday.

Full story:

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Thai pharmacies, clinics to face 30-day deadline: Cold pills

BANGKOK: -- Pharmacies and clinics will have just 30 days to clear their inventories of all pseudoephedrine-containing medicines once a regulation signed by the public health minister yesterday appears in the Royal Gazette.

Full story:

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Blasts: Thai South under close watch

THAILAND: -- In the wake of the weekend's car-bomb attacks in Hat Yai and Yala, security will remain tight in all at-risk areas for the next three months, while extra measures will be adopted during the April 5-11 Songkran festival and the April 7-11 beach volleyball competition in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Full story:

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PM Yingluck raises southern bombing at ASEAN

PHNOM PENH: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Asean summit addressed the issue of violence in the deep South, expressing sympathy after recent explosions that killed and injured more than 100 people, including citizens of neighbouring Malaysia.

Full story:

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STOPPAGE TIME

A problem that's been left to fester for too long: Thai opinion

Whoever masterminded the bomb attacks in the deep South over the weekend must have started off like many of us.

THAILAND: -- Whatever they are now - terrorists or evil - a good chance is that they, at least once in their lives, must have harboured pure ideals. A better chance yet is that they still believe they are acting for the greater good.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Bomb attack is unlikely to be the last of its kind: Thai opinion

Unless the government begins to understand the reasons behind the southern insurgency, we can expect to witness more such incidents

Full story:

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ELECTION CAMPAIGN'S PROMISE

Thai Education Ministry demonstrates computer tablet usage

BANGKOK: -- The Education Ministry yesterday showed Prathom 1 students easy ways to access their computer tablets and enter lessons and applications. The Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) approved of the simple access.

Full story:

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Pharmacist feted

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Parnuchote

BANGKOK: -- After playing a key role in protecting people from the potential dangers of steroids, Parnuchote Tongyoung was recognised yesterday as this year's prominent rural pharmacist.

The award was presented by the Pharmacy for Society Foundation, the Health Consumer Protection Project and Chulalongkorn University's Social Research Institute.

Parnuchote, 49, has been working at the Samut Sakhon public health office for 22 years.

He assisted in efforts to build the capacity of the consumer protec-tion network of pharmacists, and recently initiated a project to survey the improper use of medicines, especially steroids. Based on his study of the way steroids were being abused in the province, a steroid surveillance network was set up to monitor the problem in community and general hospitals.

Parnuchote worked with his counterparts at other hospitals to educate people living with HIV/Aids about pharmaceutical products. He also served as president of the Rural Pharma-cists Society.

-- The Nation 2012-04-04

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Unesco seeks progress report

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) is seeking a progress report on Thailand's plan to join four international conventions.

Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said yesterday that Francesco Bandarin, assistant director-general of Unesco Bangkok, was following up on the issue.

Thailand has ratified four Unesco conventions, but has yet to become a member state.

The four conventions are prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property; protection of underwater cultural heritage; protection of world cultural and natural heritage; and protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions.

Sukumol explained that the government was taking necessary steps to become a member state of the conventions.

"We are consulting relevant agencies and holding public forums to listen to the opinions of others," she said.

-- The Nation 2012-04-04

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Erosion a key factor in footpath collapse

THANATPONG KHONGSAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Rama III Road footpath that collapsed on Monday was probably a combination of two factors: the collapse of a soil-holding wall and water erosion.

The section of footpath that collapsed was almost 3 metres deep, 5m wide and 22ms long, stretching from Soi 21 to 23 in Bangkok's Bang Kho Laem district.

The city's deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul, who inspected the site yesterday morning, said initial inspection had revealed that the subsidence resulted from the collapse of a soil holding wall combined with water erosion, as the site was next to the Bang Khlo drainage canal.

He said though the footpath was constantly improved, it finally gave in to weight pressures, which also affected the soil-holding wall.

Theerachon said officials would first retrieve materials that had fallen into the roadside canal.

The Engineering Institute of Thailand and related agencies have been contacted to inspect the subsidence and redesign the infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Engineering Institute will today announce the result of its investigation into the Rama IV Road sinkhole that appeared on March 18.

The institute's secretary-general Thanes Veerasiri said early findings indicated that the sinkhole resulted from water that had originally leaked into an underground void then run out, leaving a big hole underground.

-- The Nation 2012-04-04

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Control on biomass emissions sought: Thailand

BANGKOK: -- People living close to biomass power plants have called on environmental watchdog agencies to strictly control the hazardous and toxic air pollutants released from the plants, claiming they affect their health and their farms.

Full story:

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Teenager caught smuggling drugs

The Nation

CHIANG RAI: -- A 17-year-old hill-tribe youth was arrested with 30,370 yaba tablets in two bags while attempting to board a plane from Chiang Rai Airport to Bangkok yesterday morning.

Customs officials became suspicious while X-raying the young man's luggage, and asked him to open the bags and found drugs inside. The man reportedly confessed to taking the drugs from Mae Fa Luang district near the Thai-Myanmar border for delivery in Bangkok. He said he had done it once before, taking 10,000 tablets to Bangkok via bus for an Bt80,000 payment.

Meanwhile, Ratchada-pisek Criminal Court yesterday sentenced Zambian man Jimmi Phiri, 32, to life imprisonment for attempting to smuggle 847 grams of crystal methamphetamine encased in 49 cubes, which he had swallowed, via Suvarnabhumi Airport last July. He was trying to deliver the drug to Malaysia for a payment of US$3,000 (Bt90,000). The court initially sentenced him to death but reduced the sentence due to his confession.

In related news, four border-patrol policemen were injured when a group of five drug suspects threw a grenade at them in attempt to flee from a sting operation at 4.30am yesterday in Mukdahan's Don Tan district. The suspects fled across the Mekong River, but officials managed to seize 1,878 yaba tablets, a pistol and a cell phone.

-- The Nation 2012-04-04

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Compensation for 2010 riots set

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The panel for remedial measures for those affected by the 2010 political riots yesterday concluded that the government would compensate businesspeople in Bangkok's Ratchaprasong intersection, Victory Monument, Rajdamri Road and Siam Square whose properties were damaged at rates of up to Bt360,000 for retailers and Bt1 million for big businesses.

The criteria were announced a meeting of the committee yesterday presided over by Justice Minister Pracha Promnok. Retailers will get up to Bt360,000 and major businesses (defined as owners of damaged buildings, shops or businesses in which over Bt2 million had been invested) will get up to Bt1 million or 25-50 per cent of the real damages. The meeting agreed that the remedial measures should be done according to the criteria and standards as the government emphasised on remedial action but not compensation for the actual damage cost. Besides the riot took place over two years ago hence some affected people were already received remedial assistance from other agencies, they said.

-- The Nation 2012-04-04

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Democrats urge PM to put South on House agenda

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Opposition MPs from southern border provinces yesterday called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to hold a joint sitting of both Houses to debate on insurgent violence in the deep South following Saturday's bomb attacks.

Thaworn Senneam, a Democrat MP from Songkhla, said yesterday that party MPs from the five southern border provinces were writing to the prime minister encouraging her to seek a general debate on the matter.

The Democrat MPs met for over an hour yesterday to discuss the car-bomb explosions in Yala and Songkhla, which killed more than 10 people and severely injured hundreds of others.

Thaworn, also a deputy Democrat leader for the South, said this matter was urgent and warranted a parliamentary debate even though the current session was for legislative matters only.

"If the government says this issue cannot be discussed during this legislative parliamentary session, I will ask them why they want reconciliation to be discussed in this session," Thaworn said. He was referring to the government's recent success in pushing for parliamentary debate on reconciliation proposals during this session even though it is a non-legislative issue.

The Constitution's Article 179 states that if there is an important problem in state affairs that requires the opinion of MPs and senators, "the prime minister can give notice to the National Assembly president requesting that a general debate be held at a joint sitting of the Houses. In such cases, no resolution can be passed by the National Assembly on the issue put in the debate."

Thaworn yesterday called on the prime minister to get more closely involved in dealing with the insurgency problem, noting that Yingluck is, after all, director of the Internal Security Operations Command.

"The government will be not be able to solve the problem if it tries to do so from an ivory tower. It needs to be sincere about solving the problem and not look at it as a local problem," he said.

In the previous Democrat-led government, Thaworn served as deputy interior minister dealing with insurgency-related problems in the southern border region. He said that responsible ministers then worked with local authorities in successfully preventing violent incidents.

Jeh-aming Tohtayong, Democrat MP for Narathiwat, called on Yingluck to be more open to views on tackling the insurgency.

Prasert Pongsuwansiri, Democrat MP for Yala, said an incident that left almost 20 people dead and nearly 50 people injured would immediately force a government leader to cancel her overseas trip and call an urgent Cabinet or parliamentary meeting to seek advice on dealing with the situation.

"But, instead of trying to restore public morale, the prime minister has left for Cambodia," he said.

Yingluck was in Cambodia to attend the Asean summit, which wrapped up yesterday.

-- The Nation 2012-04-04

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BURNING ISSUE

Sonthi finds it easier not to face the past: Thailand

BANGKOK: -- So how many of you, dear readers, are seriously attempting to honour the recent request by 2006 coup-leader turned national-reconciliation-maker General Sonthi Boonyaratglin to forget half a decade of political conflict and move on?

Full story:

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Bangkok is on high alert on security measures for Songkran Festival

BANGKOK, April 4 – The Thai capital, Bangkok and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (City Hall, the BMA) is on high alert with increased security measures set for this month’s Songkran festival April 12-15.

Full story:

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,208.17, down 2.90 points /MCOT

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Yala Governor Reports Casualties in Provincial Bomb Attack

YALA: -- The Yala Governor reported the number of casualties in the car bomb attack over the weekend. He claims that at least 10 victims and over hundred were injured.

Yala Governor Decharat Simsiri unveiled that at least 10 people were killed and over a hundred wounded by car bombs in the Yala's Muang District on Saturday.

A total of 35 houses, 11 parked cars, and 18 motorcycles near the blast sites were set on fire. The provincial administration organization insisted that compensation will be provided to the owners of damaged shops and vehicles.

As for the case progress, officials are collecting additional evidence. Upon preliminary investigation, the perpetrators were believed to be Sahudeen Tohjehmeh and his minions, who are members of an insurgency group.

Lately, the attack claimed the life of 38-year-old Jurai Leela, a garment vendor. Moreover, at least 25 bomb victims were admitted to the provincial hospital.

One of those victims was six-year-old Supapit Kakanangphong, or Ice, who lost her wet nurse as well as her aunt and uncle during the incident.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-04

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Nawamin 1 Hospital Innocent in Cold Pill Purchase Case

BANGKOK: -- The Health Service Support Department under the Public Health Ministry claims that the Nawamin 1 Hospital is innocent in the purchase of pseudoephedrine-based medicine, and that somebody used the hospital's name to order those tablets.

Health Service Support Department director-general Somchai Pinyopornpanich disclosed about the purchase of pseudoephedrine-based medicine of Navamin 1 Hospital.

He said that the number of pills the hospital reported to the Food and Drug Administration exceeded 900,000 pills.

Somchai said that initially, the purchases have been done through an agent company called Minburi Vechakit who acted as a middleman.

However, after an examination, it was found that the hospital was not involved in the purchase of pseudoephedrine-based medicine, but the agent company had used the name of the hospital to order those pills.

Furthermore, the Nawamin 1 Hospital canceled their purchase orders with their agent since 2010, but the company continued purchasing pseudoephedrine-based medicine 19 times from four companies, and resell those pills to 70 pharmacies nationwide.

All evidence have been sent to the Department of Special Investigation and the Food and Drug Administration for further investigation.

Moreover, the Health Service Support Department suspects that nine hospitals and clinics had irregularities in purchase of cold treatment pills containing pseudoephedrine, where one clinic has even ordered 350,000 tablets.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-04

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Oil and Gas Exploration in Thawi Watthana District Terminated

BANGKOK: -- The Energy Ministry has terminated oil and gas exploration in Bangkok's Thawi Watthana District, after no oil field or gas reserve was found.

Director-General of the Mineral Fuels Department's Mineral Fuels Management Division, Suparuek Sitahiran said the British firm Mitra Energy that won an oil exploration concession in Buddha Monthon 2 Road in Bangkok's Thawi Watthana District, has ceased its drilling in the area since April 2 after no oil field or gas reserve was discovered.

Suparuek further said that the Mineral Fuels Department director-general will hold a press conference to clarify the matter on April 5.

He explained that results of the drilling showed that the geological condition of the area is not appropriate to produce oil and gas.

The company will move equipment used in the drilling out of the area and recondition the area to normal before returning it to owners by April 9 and 10.

As for the concession, he said it depends on the company to decide if it will return the concession area to the state as the concession will expire on January 21, 2014.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-04

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Seven-tiered white umbrella of state placed at the top of the crematorium for Princess Bejaratana

BANGKOK, 4 April 2012 (NNT) - HRH Princess Chulabhorn yesterday deputized for His Majesty the King at a ceremony to raise the seven-tiered white umbrella of state to the top of the crematorium prepared for the funeral ceremony of HRH Princess Bejaratana.

After her arrival at the crematorium built for the occasion at Sanam Luang grounds, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn listened to a report by Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, in his capacity as deputy chairman of the organizing committee for the royal cremation and then talked with members of the committee for the construction of the crematorium. Thereafter, Her Royal Highness showered lustral water over the seven-tiered white umbrella and anointed it with sacred powder before pulling a rope that sent the white umbrella to the top of the crematorium. After the white umbrella of state is established in its place, Her Royal Highness left the crematorium.

The white umbrella of state is used as decoration in various occasions, at the discretion of the king. The seven-tiered umbrella is usually reserved for a king, a queen, a royal mother, and a crown prince. However, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has commanded that a higher rank be accorded to Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana, who was formerly entitled to a five-tiered white umbrella of state.

-- NNT 2012-04-04

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March Inflation Rises 3.45%

THAILAND: -- Inflation in March rose 3.45 percent over a year due to rising food and oil prices.

The Commerce Ministry is confident it will be able to keep the annual inflation rate within the range of 3.3 to 3.8 percent, while saying that a minimum wage increase and a salary hike for civil servants will have little impact on inflation.

Commerce Ministry Permanent Secretary Yanyong Phuangrach reported that the general consumer price index, or CPI, in March stood at 114.30, which was up 3.45 percent from the same period last year and 0.59 percent since February.

In the first quarter of the year, the average CPI rose by 3.39 percent year-on-year.

The inflation in March was pushed by rising production and transportation costs caused by a rise in global and local oil prices. Vegetable and fruit prices shot up 10.41 percent, while ready-to-eat food costs 9.33 percent higher.

The average annual inflation rate is expected to be within the 3.3 to 3.8 per cent range, provided that the government would continue implementing measures to reduce the cost of living.

The permanent secretary noted that an increase in the daily minimum wage to 300 baht could push up inflation by merely 0.1 percent, while a salary hike for civil servants would have little impact on inflation.

A taxi fare hike, meanwhile, would slightly affect the inflation rate, as the weight of taxi fare in the calculation of CPI is only 0.23 percent. The ministry expects inflation in the second quarter to stand at 3.5 percent according its original estimate.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-04

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New Phuket license plates set for B25mn auction

PHUKET: -- The annual auction of special-edition Phuket license plates this year is hoped to raise 25 million baht for the national Road Safety Fund.

Full story:

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Motor Bikes Allowed to Removed from Hotel Blast Site

HAT YAI: -- A total of 300 motorbikes left stranded at the bomb scene of the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel have been removed yesterday.

Yesterday, officials allowed more than 300 motorbike owners to remove their bikes out of the car-bomb attack site at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Songkhla's Hat Yai District after officers had partly cleared the debris around the hotel's underground parking lot.

Car owners are required to register and present legal evidence to proof ownership before recovering their vehicles.

People are allowed to bring their cars from April 6 onwards as officials must work to remove the remaining obstructions.

Moreover, the provincial administration organization insisted that compensation will be provided to the damaged vehicles' owners in accordance to the protocol for any loss due to insurgencies in the three southernmost provinces.

Meanwhile, assistant police chief in charge of security affairs, Police General Worapong Chewpreecha, has flown down South to follow up on the bomb attack.

He revealed that the bombers hid a 30-kilogram explosive device comprised of ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel in two liquified petroleum gas tanks. Worapong pointed out that it is the typical type of bomb used for southern turmoils in three southernmost provinces.

The police investigator expected that some hotel staff might be involved in the case since the bombers drove the car at the same time while the security guards' were changing shifts at about 10 a.m. Therefore, the drivers did not receive a parking pass.

Moreover, the Engineering Institute of Thailand will dispatch an engineering team to conduct a thorough inspection on the building structure for safety purposes.

Upon initial investigation, the main structure remains strong. However, all basement grounds must be demolished.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-04

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Thais Urged to Wear Pha Khao Ma during Songkran Festival

BANGKOK: -- Famous rapper Joey Boy urges Thais to help promote the Thai identity by wearing the traditional plaid cotton cloth during the Songkran Festival.

As a large number of people usually travel back to the provinces to celebrate the Songkran Festival with their families and the capital of Bangkok will become pleasantly quiet during the festive season week, the Culture Ministry plans to organize an event entitled “Songkran Mesa Pha Khao Ma Krong Loke” to promote tourism in Bangkok.

Siam Square Soi 3, a very popular shopping area among teenagers, will see many activities such as giving alms to Buddhist monks, listening to sermons, pouring water onto the elderlies' hands to show gratefulness, sprinkling water onto a Buddha image, and freeing birds and fish.

As the event title suggests, the event requires people to wear the traditional plaid cotton cloth known as Pha Khao Ma.

Joey Boy said he is delighted that the Pha Khao Ma is being used to represent the Thai identity and hopes that the new generation will don Pha Khao Ma during the festival, as it is a Thai intellect that is outstanding and no country can imitate.

He also urged youths to spend time during the festival with their elders. The “Songkran Mesa Pha Khao Ma Krong Loke" will be held during April 13 to 15 at Siam Square.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-04