Thailand Live Saturday 12 May 2012

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Thailand Live Saturday 12 May 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 Friday 11 May 2012

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Thai Parliament passes four charter-change provisions

Parliament yesterday approved draft provisions of the charter amendment bill in four successive votes, bringing the debate on the second reading of the legislation nearer to completion.

BANGKOK: -- After 14 days, debate on draft laws relating to the establishment of a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) as proposed by the government is complete, while the deliberation of additional clauses proposed by parliamentarians is scheduled for Monday.

Full story:

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Thai research team studies efficacy of HIV vaccine

BANGKOK: -- A Thai research team is working on two new studies to see how a vaccine can boost people's immunity against HIV.

Full story:

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Bank of Thailand hints at normalised policy rate

Move hinges on economic stabilisation

BANGKOK: -- The Bank of Thailand signalled a normalisation of the policy rate if the economy resumes its normal level, while raising its 2012 growth forecast to 6 per cent.

Full story:

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Bangkok Chinatown residents fight project near temple

BANGKOK: -- Residents of Bangkok's Chinatown will gather on May 21 to show their opposition to a plan to develop a hotel and shopping complex right next to the area's most famous Chinese temple, Wat Leng Noei Yi.

Full story:

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Older kids would make better use of tablet PCs than Prathom 1: Thai researchers

Older kids would make better use of tablets than Prathom 1, say researchers

BANGKOK: -- The government should distribute tablet PCs to Prathom 1 and Prathom 4 (Grades 1 and 4) students, as well as to Matthayom 1 and 4 (Grades 7 and 10), a team of researchers said yesterday.

Full story:

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2.1GHZ SPECTRUM

NBTC panel to finalise auction

Sirivish Toomgum

The Nation

Pattaya

Aim is to promote competition

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's 2.1GHz management subcommittee will finalise on Tuesday the auction method for licences for that telecom spectrum, which is expected to divide it into nine slots, each containing 5 megahertz of bandwidth.

Settapong Malisuwan, chairman of the NBTC telecom committee, said yesterday that after the methodology is finalised, the result would be submitted for his committee's approval at the end of this month and to the NBTC board next month. Then it will be put to a public hearing process, which is expected to take two months.

He added that the NBTC's ultimate goal was to promote competition in the market after the auction, not competition in the bidding itself.

He said the commission would not keep any part of the 2.1-gigahertz spectrum but would put all 45MHz of bandwidth up for auction. The watchdog intends to call for bids on the spectrum in the third quarter.

Settapong added that the telecom committee planned to invite Pacharasut Sujarittanonta of US auction design firm Cramton Associates to be its adviser for the auction.

Pacharasut, a Thai national, said one important element in an auction was that the regulator had to determine first what its ultimate goal was, then the auction process would be designed to fit that goal.

He added that there was no auction method that could satisfy all parties and the watchdog had to focus on promoting market competition after the event, which would benefit the industry in the long run.

In general, the main purposes of the spectrum auction include promoting post-auction competition, promoting efficient spectrum use by the bid winners, and amassing state revenue.

The NBTC has considered many auction methods. If it auctions nine slots of 5MHz each as expected, it will need to finalise the maximum bandwidth each participant can bid for.

-- The Nation 2012-05-12

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Mandarin teaching campaign kicks off

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday inaugurated a scheme to boost the teaching of Mandarin to Thai students, under which 1,200 volunteers from China will soon begin providing free or low cost tutorials, initially at the primary and secondary school levels.

At the opening ceremony at Government House, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday lauded the longstanding ThaiChinese relations and thanked China's Education Ministry and the volunteers for their help.

She said the Mandarin language courses, to be provided for one year from an as yet unspecified date, would further bolster bilateral relations and benefit investment and cultural relations. The two countries are already working closely on tourism and water management.

Another 4,000 volunteers from China will travel to Thailand at a later stage. This will be followed by various exchange programmes between the two countries, Education Minister Suchart Tadathamrongvej said. Mandarin language curricula at the undergraduate level will be developed later for longterm use at Thai universities, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-12

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Swedish Film Festival and EU Eco fest offer great escapes to Bangkok movie-goers

The Swedish Film Festival and the EU Eco fest offer great escapes to Bangkok movie-goers

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok cineastes enjoyed the French Film Festival in March, then were spoilt for choice earlier this month when movies from Spain and Hong Kong showed simultaneously at two venues. Now there's more foreign films on offer with the Swedish Film Festival next week and the EU Eco Film Festival the week after.

Full story:

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Chalerm: Those MPs left out of the Cabinet to see Thaksin

Full story:

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Alcohol found in blood of drivers killed in tollway smash

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Unspecified levels of alcohol were found in the blood of both drivers killed when their luxury cars crashed in a road accident last month, assistant national police chief Pol LtGeneral Jaramphorn Suramanee said yesterday.

The officer gave no details of the drivers' bloodalcohol levels, only saying that the legal limit was 150 miligram percentage, citing a forensic study.(don't think this is right…. Shld be 0.5 g alcl/litre of blood or .05%(?))

Major Sakdiphat Pathummarak - the son of former Thai Rak Thai Party executive Chranchai Pathummarak - was driving a Toyota Fortuner SUV, which was rammed from behind by a Porsche driven by Thaifa Chayaworaprapa, a millionaire businessman. The collision took place at 12.30am in an outbound lane of the tollway near the Daily News newspaper office in Bangkok.

Traffic camera footage showed that shortly before the crash, the SUV travelled past the nearest camera 1.32 seconds ahead of the Porsche, which was 1.08 seconds ahead of a Mazda 3 sedan, whose unnamed driver sustained minor injuries, Jaramphorn said. He did not explain how the order of the three vehicles would be useful in deciding who was at fault.

-- The Nation 2012-05-12

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Sprinklers, emergency lights help firefighters control blaze in Bangkok's Le Concorde Office Tower

BANGKOK: -- Firefighters managed to quickly control a blaze in the Le Concorde Office Tower in Bangkok's Huai Khwang district thanks to the building's efficient firealarm system, the district's director said.

Full story:

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Jatuporn 'forgives' Chalong as the two reconcile

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai party-list MP Apiwan Wiriyachai confirmed yesterday that the conflict between his fellow MPs Jatuporn Promphan and Chalong Raewrang had been settled.

Full story:

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Pheu Thai calls for probe on new BTS Skytrain deal

House panel to be asked to scrutinise BTSC's latest 30-year deal with BMA

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party will ask a House committee to look into the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) questionable decision to award huge contracts to the current operator of the BTS system.

Full story:

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Myanmar borders might reopen

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The border crossings ordered closed by the leader of an armed Karen minority group might be open again, judging from the fact that Thai and Myanmar vendors seem to be travelling back and forth. The closures were apparently put in effect last week.

Weerawong Suwannawong, a senior official in Tak province's Phob Phra district, said it appeared the border closure had been lifted, though military officials were wondering whether the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) had been ordered to do so by Myanmar authorities.

Neither Myanmar government nor DKBA have issued any statements about the border closure.

Weerawong said he did not know whether the blockades had been completely or partially lifted, though most Thai vendors and tourists are not crossing over to Myanmar in droves like before because they know that the DKBA leader, General Na Kha Muay, still faces an arrest warrant.

"Relations between Thai and Karen locals have not returned to normal, so the trust [on the Thai side] has not fully been regained," he added.

The socalled lifting of the blockade came one day after the DKBA leader issued a statement denying having anything to do with the production or trade in drugs, as implied in an arrest warrant issued nine years ago. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung dredged up this warrant, since he is leading the Thai government crackdown on narcotics.

Chalerm renewed his attacks yesterday, saying the Karen leader was a wanted man and had to be arrested, though he seemed to have softened his stance from calling the DKBA chief "one of those blacklisted".

-- The Nation 2012-05-12

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Biggest pirate CD/DVD production operation raided in Bangkok

BANGKOK, May 12 – Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) led a joint operation of government agencies cracking down on the country's biggest pirate CD/DVD production house and confiscating a haul of pirated media estimated to be valued at many millions of baht as well as major caches of production equipment.

DSI Director General Tharit Pengdit told a press conference Friday that the DSI joined forces with the Department of Intellectual Property and the National Federation of Thai Film Associations in hitting the biggest pirate disc production bases at seven locations allegedly belonging to Peera Korsuwannakul.

The seven locations were in Bangkok and surrounding areas including Ban Mor, Klang Mueang Housing Estate, Chaiyaphruek Housing Estate, Bang Bua Thong, a shop opposite Pantip Department Store in Ngarm Wong Wan, Phrueksa Housing Estate in Ratchaphruek, and two houses at Soi Pinprapakhom.

According to Mr Tharit, Mr Peera operates the country's largest pirated CD/DVD production operation distributed the illegal pirate discs nationwide.

He said the DSI investigated and tracked telephone calls before beginning the crackdown.

However, Mr Peera escaped arrest himself, and the authorities were able only to arrest a number of Myanmar workers involved in the production.

The DSI will later ask Court to approve an arrest warrant for Mr Peera, he said, as the authorities believe he is still in the country. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-05-12

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Thai ICT Ministry flooded with complaints over mobile network quality

Full story:

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'Minute man' robber makes off with Bt19k at gunpoint

Staff at the Family Mart in Chalong today. Phuket Police believe that the same man is responsible for robbing at least two other 24-hour convenience stores in Phuket over the past week, one in Patong and the other at Nai Yang. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- A man masked by a motorbike helmet robbed a Family Mart store in Chalong at gunpoint early this morning, making off with more than 19,000 baht in less than a minute.

Full story:

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Phuket authorities call for peaceful red-shirt rally on Sunday

Chaisak Sawasri, chief of the Royal Thai Police Phuket Special Branch (Santibaan) division in Phuket, advised it would be prudent to keep an eye on both factions on Sunday. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- With concerns of 500 members arriving to join the red-shirt rally in Phuket on Sunday, and at least 1,500 yellow-shirt supporters staging a mass rally at Phuket Provincial Hall at the same time, Phuket authorities today called for both sides to respect each other group’s democratic rights and to not engage in any conflict.

Full story:

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Public Health Ministry launches nationwide war on mosquito-breeding grounds

BANGKOK, 12 May 2012 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry is set to rid the country of as many mosquito-breeding grounds as possible before the new school term begins.

Full story:

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Police to brace for Red Shirt gathering

BANGKOK, 12 May 2012 (NNT) - Police and business operators in Ratchaprasong area discussed security and traffic management plans ahead of the commemoration gathering by Red Shirt members.

Shop owners in Ratchaprasong area asked police to persuade Red Shirt members to perform their activities in peace and keep the roads passable for the sake of their business and road users.

The operators' requests will be forwarded to national police chief Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong for further discussion.

Red Shirt members have planned to converge on Ratchaprasong area on May 19 to commemorate the death of their peers killed during the 2010 crackdown. This will be the 26th gathering during the past two years. Around 20,000 people are expected to participate this time. Eight companies of police will be dispatched to the area to ensure safety.

-- NNT 2012-05-12

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Phuket Town power cables going underground

With Thalang, Krabi and Deebuk Roads complete, only Thepkrasattri Road remains before phase three can start. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Behind schedule and with possible delays in sorting out the telephone cables, the project to bury Phuket Old Town’s electricity supply lines has been generally well received by residents. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Phase two of the project to remove the unsightly cables that have been obscuring the classic Sino-Portuguese shopfronts along the streets of Old Phuket Town for decades continues this Saturday when workers will pull down the power poles along Deebuk Road.

Full story:

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Phuket joins Andaman fight against coastal erosion

Breached sea defenses at Laem Tukkae village. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Mayor Phudit Raksaraj backs the anti-erosion plan. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Phuket has joined an Andaman-wide project spearheaded by the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Haad Yai Campus to combat coastal erosion throughout the region.

Full story:

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Commerce Ministry Expects Product Prices to Go Down by Year End

BANGKOK, 12 May 2012 (NNT) – The Commerce Ministry expects consumer product prices to go down late this year as many distributors have reportedly agreed to maintain prices for another four months.

At the Saturday government talk show, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom disclosed many producers were actually reluctant to increase their product prices unless the fuel costs soared. He added the government’s decision to maintain fuel tariff should help ease their difficulty.

Mr. Boonsong however admitted that manufacturers who were badly affected by rising costs may have no choice but adjust their prices upwards. The Minister is positive that prices of consumer goods should remain stable or lower late this year.

Apart from the request for price hike delay, the Commerce Ministry has included ready-to-eat foods in its price control list, starting with 10 popular dishes, such as noodle soup and fried rice. Operators found to have violated the law risk facing a maximum jail term of up to seven years or a fine of THB 140,000 or both.

The Commerce Ministry is ready to remove ready-to-eat foods from its price control list once their prices have returned to normal.

The Ministry will also extend the service period of Blue Flag shops, which offer low price consumer goods from five days to two months. The number of Blue Flag caravans will in addition increase to cover 50 districts throughout Bangkok.

The Commerce Minister has planned to invite manufacturers and distributors to discuss the situation next week.

-- NNT 2012-05-12

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Science Minister Plodprasop: water experts affirm not much water this year so no flooding expected; will meet with Chinese water experts soon /TANN

Former PM Chavalit opens Nakhon Panom home for well wishers on his 80th birthday; wishes for unity in the country /TANN

Charansanitwong Rd inbound and outbound from Bangplad intersection-Rama VII bridge closed from 11pm-5am for removal of pedestrian bridge /TANN

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ICT & Education Ministers Defend School Tablet PCs Project

BANGKOK, 12 May 2012 (NNT) – The Education and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministers used the weekly government talk show on Saturday to emphasize the need for tablet PC usage among elementary school students amidst concerns of misuse from parents.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/554463-older-kids-would-make-better-use-of-tablet-pcs-than-prathom-1-thai-researchers/#entry5294059

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Thai-Lao officials to step up border drug trade clampdown

MUKDAHAN, 12 May 2012 (NNT) – Officials from Thailand and Laos have taken part in a special meeting, aimed at tackling the problems of drug trade along both countries’ border areas.

On Friday, senior officials from Thailand’s Mukdahan Province and Laos’ Savannakhet joined in a special Border Liaison Office (BLO) meeting, which was aimed at elevating related offices’ ability to detect drugs and enhancing joint drug clampdown measures.

The meeting also saw an exchange of ideas from special committees representing both neighbors, as they discussed the ongoing threats of drugs along the border.

It is reported that Thai and Lao officials have agreed to utilize the mechanisms of the BLO’s anti-narcotics cooperation office to enhance their efforts and to jointly elevate the drug test program and organize anti-drug activities as well as hold an official workshop for both neighbors’ BLO officers at least once a year.

-- NNT 2012-05-12

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PM vows to fight Preah Vihear case in ICJ

CHIANG MAI, May 12--- Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday said the government would apply its utmost efforts to contest the Preah Vihear case at the International Court of Justice, pledging to protect Thailand’s sovereignty.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/554560-pm-vows-to-fight-preah-vihear-case-in-icj/#entry5294097

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PTT, Bangchak to cut all oil product prices by 40 satang/litre, E85 by 20 satang/litre; effective Sunday /MCOT