Thailand Live Tuesday 17 Apr 2012

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Thailand Live Tuesday 17 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 16 Apr 2012

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RUNAWAY EX-PM

Death threat to Thaksin remains : defence minister

BANGKOK: -- Defence Minister General Sukampol Suwannathat re-confirmed yesterday that fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is being targeted for assassination.

Full story:

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EARTHQUAKE

Tourists flee beach, shoppers abandon mall after quake hit Phuket

PHUKET: -- People on the island of Phuket got another scare yesterday when a 4.3-magnitude earthquake struck at 4.44pm in Thalang district.

Full story:

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THAI-CAMBODIA TIES

Govt unsure if Thaksin can speed Veera, Ratree's release

Veera

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will have to wait and see if a meeting between fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has any effect on an appeal for a royal pardon for activists Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, Thani Thongpakdee, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department, said yesterday.

Full story:

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New model to predict floods around Thailand

To simulate situations for week after getting weather data

BANGKOK: -- A team of researchers from the Hydro and Agro Infomatics Institute (HAII) is developing a new hydrological model to predict flooding around the Kingdom over any seven day period.

Full story:

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Mum dies after 30 years of caring for ill son

The Nation

This photo, taken in 2006, shows Ampai Yodbutr kissing her son, former actor Anochao, who slipped into a coma in 1983 after a car accident in Chiang Mai.

CHIANG MAI: -- Ampai Yodbutr, the mother of actor Anochao - who has been in a coma for nearly 30 years - died on Saturday at the age of 88 from lung cancer, it was reported yesterday.

Ampai had patiently taken care of her son since he was badly hurt in a car accident in 1983. She was honoured as one of the nation's outstanding mothers in 2002.

The actor's siblings, notably Euamporn Yodbutr, will continue to take care of 54-year-old Anochao, as per Ampai's last words: "Don't leave your brother."

Famous radio host Saithip "Chod" Montrikul na Ayudhaya tweeted on her personal profile @DjPChod that Anochao's mum passed away and that a bathing rite would be held for her tomorrow at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat at 4pm.

The Abhidramma recital rite will be held for five days before the cremation ceremony on April 23.

Anochao - the youngest son of Ampai's eight children - went into a coma following a road accident while filming the Thai movie "Rakkan Wanlanid" (Love A Little Bit Each Day) in Chiang Mai in 1983.

Ampai gave interviews saying she would never forget the night of October 30, 1983 when a film crew told her on the phone that Anochao was in a car accident in Chiang Mai and had to undergo urgent surgery.

When she went to the hospital, the first time she saw his condition she was so shocked that she froze, couldn't speak, and felt something very heavy inside her chest, while tears continuously streamed down her cheeks.

Anochao was later moved to Bangkok and underwent surgery at various hospitals. Ampai said that at first she and the family hoped her boy would recover because there was so much love at home and they were taking good care of him, according to doctors' advice.

As time passed, their hope evaporated and Ampai admitted being concerned about who would take care of her son when she was gone, because his siblings had their own responsibilities.

Daughter Euanjit recalled that Ampai, who had heart disease, developed a chronic cough late last year until February, when a doctor found she was suffering the final phase of lung cancer. Since then her mother had received regular treatment before being admitted to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital two weeks ago.

She passed away just before midnight on April 14.

Euanjit and siblings had planned a merit-making event on July 14 to celebrate Ampai's birthday but it was too late, she said.

"Now, what we can do is to follow her last words, "Don't leave your brother", because mum was so worried about Anochao. We will take care of him," Euanjit said, adding that her sister Euamporn would stay home with Anochao and other siblings would visit regularly.

-- The Nation 2012-04-17

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MCOT

Search on for new boss

WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MCOT, the operator of Modernine TV, aims to complete the selection of qualified candidates for president and forward the shortlist to its board by midyear.

Pholchai Vinijchaikul, senior vice president for human resources and secretary of the nomination committee, told The Nation that the screening started on April 5 and would close on May 15.

Applicants must hand their cover letters and important documents directly to Premkamon Tinnakorn Na Ayutthaya, chairman of the nomination committee.

Applicants who meet the qualifications will be invited for an interview by the committee. The selected candidates must give a presentation on their ideas for managing and developing the organisation during their four-year term.

Once the negotiations over salary and benefits for the nominees are completed, the committee will submit the list of the finalists for the board's approval by July, hoping to see no delay in the schedule.

The winner will succeed Tanawat Wansom, who was terminated in November by the former board of directors led by Surapon Nitikraipot. The board's decision followed an assessment of Tanawat's performance in the past year, after MCOT's labour union lodged several complaints. MCOT staff believed that the reshuffles under the new organisational structure proposed by Tanawat would create rifts.

They also pressed for Tanawat to explain spending in the "corporate social responsibility" category of more than Bt400 million a year.

The fact-finding committee found that Tanawat was a slow performer, neglected compliance and failed in human-resource management and good governance. The former board believed those issues could lead to internal conflict.

Tanawat received about Bt2 million in compensation for his contract cancellation.

Analysts at CIMB Securities (Thai-land) have reported that the conflict among management, the board and shareholders caused MCOT to suffer a setback in business last year.

Chakraphan Yomchinda, vice chairman and acting president, hopes that Modernine TV's news-programming revamp on April 29 will restore the confidence of advertisers.

-- The Nation 2012-04-17

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NGV shortage in Isaan hurts bus firms, drivers

KHON KAEN: -- The short supply of natural gas for vehicles (NGV) in the Northeast has driven up costs for public transport operators and forced Songkran visitors to abandon their cars or delay their return to Bangkok.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Premier League has to come clean on money question: Thai opinion

BANGKOK: -- Allegations of financial irregularities in the management of the national football league must be cleared up before long-term damage is done to the sport's development here

Full story:

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Pheu Thai denies trying to hasten amnesty law

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party will not rush to pass an amnesty bill in order to avoid criticism, Pheu Thai party-list MP Prompong Nopparit said yesterday

Full story:

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Charter drafting assembly will cost Bt400m-Bt500m, deputy speaker says

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The planned Constitution Drafting Assembly will require funding of about Bt400-500 million, Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol said yesterday.

The funds will come in two parts, from the fiscal 2012 and 2013 budgets. The amount to be taken from the fiscal 2012 budget would depend on when the CDA is established, as the fiscal year will end in about five months. The money would come from the Central Budget, which comprises funds not allocated to a specific agency. However, funding for the CDA in fiscal 2013 would be calculated and sought during Parliament's Budget Bill debate, he said.

"Parliamentary officers are calculating the budget. It will be about Bt400-500 million. A CDA member will get the same salary as an MP. However, the Election Commission will request the budget for the CDA election from the Central Budget," Charoen said.

Charoen yesterday said he planned to discuss the issue with the House Speaker and possibly the whips in order to make the parliamentary debate more effective.

He said government and opposition whips had had trouble reaching agreements lately, and that politicking had made parliamentary debate ineffective while many laws needed to be passed in the current session.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday that the Pheu Thai MPs were asked not to counter-attack the Democrats or protest unless it is necessary, as it would delay the parliamentary debate - which is exactly what the Democrats want.

The second reading of the House-Senate joint session on constitutional amendment was halted last week due to the tsunami scare, and was scheduled to continue tomorrow and Thursday. The third reading was scheduled for May 8.

During last week's debate, the Democrats attacked the government as trying to rush the charter amendment process within the current parliamentary session for their own sake and to favour former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

-- The Nation 2012-04-17

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Songkran Death toll way over last year as millions return to Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The first five days of the Songkran holiday saw 253 people killed on the roads - a large jump over last year, although the numbers of accidents and people injured were slightly down.

Full story:

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Thai govt to set up flood center

It will provide details on water management and floods to public

BANGKOK: -- The government is preparing to set up a centre for the efficient management of water and flood information.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....p-flood-center/

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Nine demands for labour day

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Workers' representatives are preparing to submit nine demands to the government on Labour Day, May 1.

"They first of all want the government to ratify International Labour Organisation Conventions 87 and 98," Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap said yesterday.

The ILO agreements provide for improved protection of workers' rights.

The government will be asked to set up a fund to provide compensation to laid-off workers whose employers have not given them any severance pay.

"They hope the government will waive the income tax on the last payment such as severance pay that the employees receive from their company too," he said.

They want the State Enterprise Capital Act scrapped and any plan to privatise state enterprises cancelled.

They want a law issued that ensures retired state-enterprise employees receive medical benefits that are as good as those for retired civil servants.

They want adequate inform on occupational health and safety standards in preparation for the establishment of the Asean Economic Community.

The want the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Public Organisation) started up by the deadline.

"They also hope to see the government ban the import of rockwool," he said. Mineral fibres have been blamed in many countries for occupational illnesses, including cancer.

They will call for a welfare fund to be initiated for workers and for severance pay for |laid-off workers to be doubled, Phadermchai said.

-- The Nation 2012-04-17

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PM Yingluck on 3-day official visit to China Tue to boost ties and commerce at both state, private sector levels /The Nation

[george]

On first 6 days of #Songkran, there were 282 deaths & 3,059 injuries in 2,872 accidents /via @191Thailand

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Thai stock index opens on Tuesday at 1,177.59, up 8.14 points /MCOT

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TAT to Boost Thailand's Tourism Image During PM's Visit to China

BANGKK: -- Representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand accompany the prime minister on a visit to China between today to Thursday to clarify the tsunami alert for the six Andaman coastal provinces during the Songkran Festival.

The number of Chinese tourists this year is believed to reach two million, exceeding last year's figure of 1.7 million.

Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT, Deputy Governor for International Marketing for Asia and South Pacific, Sansern Ngaorungsi said that representatives from the TAT and other tourism associations such as the Tourism Council of Thailand and the Association of Thai Travel Agents, are accompanying Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her entourage on a visit to China from today to Thursday.

The TAT will meet with Chinese tour operators to promote travel to Thailand, as well as clarify the recent tsunami warning for the six Andaman coastal provinces that it was a natural phenomenon and that tourists have not been affected, especially those in Phuket.

The TAT will also use this opportunity to have the PM meet with five Chinese major tour operators. They are expected to ask for the cancellation of the visa fee for Chinese residents traveling to Thailand to increase the number of Chinese visitors to the Kingdom to over two million, an increase from last year's figure of 1.7 million.

Sansern further said that the chairman of Amway China has approved in bringing approximately 16,500 members on an award travel visit to Phuket between April 15 to May 15.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-17

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Songkran Death Toll Hits 282 in During the 6 Day Period

BANGKOK: -- The six day period of the Songkran holidays reported 282 deaths and 3,059 injuries caused by road accidents.

Full story:

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Revelers Travel Back to Bangkok after Songkran

The Mo Chit bus terminal and the Hua Lampong railway station was jam-packed with people returning to the capital following the long Songkran holiday.

Full story:

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RT @vaitor: Several small earthquakes in Sumatra and Thailand yesterday & today but no known casualties or tsunami warnings reported

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Amway to deliver Bt2.5bn boost to Phuket

The carpet may not have been red but the treatment for the arriving Amway staff was. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: - The Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects the 18,000 Amway sales representatives arriving from China to spend up to 2.5 billion baht during their month-long stay on Phuket.

Full story:

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Interior Ministry to survey damages sustained from earthquake

BANGKOK, 17 April 2012 (NNT) – The Ministry of Interior has been assigned to inspect the damage sustained in the provinces which have been affected by the recent earthquake, as well as coming up with a solution to the the problem of communication failure during times of emergency.

Prior to her trip to China, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra stated that following the recent earthquake, relevant agencies have been instructed to monitor the situation closely. The Interior Ministry has been assigned to inspect the damage sustained in Phuket province where the integrity of its numerous old, high-rising buildings must undergo detailed inspection for safety purposes.

Additionally, the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management has been tasked with overseeing the solution to telephone communication failure, which took place when the earthquake rocked the province. However, it has been reported that SMS service was still available, through which to communicate, despite the telephone failure.

-- NNT 2012-04-17

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Special Report: HM the King receives Humanitarian Soil Scientist award

BANGKOK: -- The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) has awarded His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Humanitarian Soil Scientist for his works on soil management.

His Majesty the King granted an audience to IUSS Chairman, Dr. Stephen Northcliff, and other representatives from the IUSS at Siriraj Hospital on Monday. Dr. Northcliff presented the Humanitarian Soil Scientist award to His Majesty the King, honoring him as the first recipient of the award in the world for his dedication to soil resources management.

Dr Northcliff said that the IUSS committee has agreed that His Majesty the King has visions on soil development. He has been working continuously to manage better soil for Thai farmers since the 17th World Congress of Soil Science took place in Bangkok in August 2002.

The King has been a leader in tackling soil degradation, for example, by using vetiver grass to preserve the soil and water. He has also provided lands to Thai farmers and opened several royal initiative projects and centers across Thailand to help his citizens cope with soil problems.

The IUSS Chairman added that His Majesty is the leader in soil developer not only of Thailand but also of the world. His works has inspired many international soil scientists to follow and help develop further methods to improve sustainable soil management.

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) is the global union of soil scientists, founded in 1924. The objectives of the IUSS are to promote all branches of soil science, and to support all soil scientists across the world in the pursuit of their activities.

-- NNT 2012-04-17

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RT @AP: Strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake shakes central Chile, USGS reports; no immediate reports of damages. http://apne.ws/HMiX2v

-MM

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Phuket Songkran Seven Days of Danger road toll latest: 3 dead, 32 injured

Phuket Police have stopped more than 30,000 vehicles so far during the road-safety campaign. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- With the Songkran “Seven Days of Danger” road-safety campaign ending at midnight tonight, the road toll for the Thai New Year stands at three people dead and a further 32 admitted to hospital as a result of road incidents.

Full story:

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Senior Pheu Thai MP Advises Thaksin to Forfeit 46 Billion Baht for Amnesty

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party List MP Sanoh Thienthong advises former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to forfeit his claim on the 46 billion baht seized from him in order to receive amnesty.

Full story:

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SET index midday Tue down 12.71 pts, 1.09 pct

The Nation

Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Tuesday stood at 1,156.74, down 12.71 points, or 1.09 per cent.

Blue chip SET-50 index was at 810.39, down 11.06 points, or 1.35 per cent.

Top five active (value) stocks: BANPU(XD), BBL, KBANK(XD), PTT, SCB(XD).

-- The Nation 2012-04-17

[Lite Beer]

EARTHQUAKE

PM orders damage evaluation in Phuket

The Nation

PHUKET:-- Local residents show cracks in a house reportedly caused by Sunday quake.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday instructed the interior minister to survey damage in Phuket following the 4.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the southern island resort yesterday afternoon.

FullStory: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/548424-phuket-struck-twice-by-earthquakes/#entry5225803