Thailand Live Tuesday 15 May 2012

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Thailand Live Tuesday 15 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 Monday 14 May 2012

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Yellow-shirt leader Karun denies charges over seizure of airports

Karun

BANGKOK: -- Yellow-shirt leader Karun Sai-ngam has denied all police charges against him in connection with the seizure of two Bangkok airports in 2008, police said yesterday.

Full story:

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ANALYSIS

Virabongsa gets nod to chair Bank of Thailand

Virabongsa

BANGKOK: -- Veteran economist Virabongsa Ramangkura has been nominated as the new chairman for the Bank of Thailand - as expected - amid suspicion that the government intervened the selection process at the country's top economic body to unify its political power.

Full story:

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BMA CONTROVERSY

PR war over Bangkok Skytrain deal heats up

Pheu Thai Party says BMA contract with BTSC lost capital Bt6.47 billion

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party continued its attack on the Bangkok administration's extension of the Skytrain contract yesterday, claiming the city "lost" Bt6.47 billion "for nothing".

Full story:

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POLITICS

Second reading of Thai constitution bill finalised

BANGKOK: -- The second reading of a bill to allow the establishment of a Constitutional Drafting Assembly finished yesterday with the final article requiring the recruitment of CDA members to begin within 15 days after the law takes effect.

Full story:

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'Monkey cheeks' backed over dam

Water retention area 'may be better solution than Mae Wong dam'

BANGKOK: -- Top Water Resources officials want the government to build "monkey cheeks" - a retention area - as a way to manage flood and drought problems in the Sakae Krang watershed, instead of building a dam in the Mae Wong National Park.

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

Oddities abound in Amphon's trial and jailing

The Nation

Photo : Sakol Sandhiratne

BANGKOK: -- The death of Amphon Tangnoppakul serves to remind us of a travesty of justice.

Amphon died of cancer last Tuesday at Bangkok Remand Prison's central hospital. He was 61. He passed away before he could apply for a royal pardon on his lese majeste conviction and prison sentence of 20 years.

In life as well as in death, Amphon was at the centre of an ongoing debate between proponents and opponents for change in the lese majeste law.

The opposing camps should, however, be mindful that this is a time for mourning and reflection, instead of treating the dead man like a political football.

The verdict, handed down last November, was actually a summation of oddities found in the Amphon case.

The legal wrangling began after four SMS text messages were sent on May 9, 11, 12 and 22, 2010 to the mobile phone of Somkiat Krongwattanasuk, private secretary to the then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

With or without Amphon's involvement, it was odd that someone would target Somkiat, as if trying to provoke the authorities to enforce the lese majeste law.

Inquiries subsequently linked the messages to Ampon's mobile phone, using the International Mobile Equipment Identification (IMEI) as evidence.

Unlike past cases involving royal insult, the prosecution opted to prosecute Amphon based on the IMEI and mobile phone technology rather than re-enact how and why the offensive messages were sent.

In other words, the court heard arguments and rebuttals about the technology to identify and link Amphon's mobile phone to the four messages and not whether Amphon was the man who sent them.

In the court of public opinion, many had two lingering doubts - whether Amphon was capable of text messaging and whether the IMEI could be manipulated to frame Amphon.

These two doubts were not addressed in a court of law. And the defence neglected to explain why Amphon's mobile phone showed a number of text messages sent when there were doubts whether he was capable of relaying such notes.

The gist of the conviction was based on the Computer Act holding Amphon accountable for the spread of offensive messages via SMS. The lese majeste law was cited to penalise him in conformity with the procedural code to invoke a stronger provision of the two laws in the sentencing.

The defence did not, curiously, dispute the prosecution's branding of the messages as a royal insult.

If a frail man like Amphon was prosecuted for a crime he did not commit, then this leads to a disturbing question - who was behind the scam to frame him?

The four text messages were sent via an SMS substation located near Amphon's home. But the question remains: Did someone deliberately involve Amphon?

Oddities of the case did not end in the courtroom.

The autopsy report showed Amphon had terminal liver cancer. After his death, his wife admitted knowing about the fatal illness. Yet in all his eight bail applications, the defence never mentioned cancer.

In March, Amphon decided to seek a pardon instead of trying to overturn his conviction. His poor health was apparent for all to see.

But the people he trusted convinced him to opt for a pardon via the government as a short route to directly petition the King.

Shortly before he succumbed to his illness, he wrote a passionate letter to his defence team voicing optimism about a pardon. He seemed to be unaware that the government had not started his pardon process.

-- The Nation 2012-05-15

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Project near temple legal, office insists

Thanatpong Kongsai,

Anupan Jantana

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Privy Purse is standing by its decision to award a lease contract to a private firm amid rumours the project will feature a hotel and shopping complex right next to Bangkok's Leng Noei Yi Temple.

"The firm has proceeded in line with the law," an official at the office said yesterday.

The firm, according to this official, is Imperial Land Co Ltd. The office's top chief Pinyo Ekaraphanich could not be reached for comment.

Leng Noei Yi is a famous Chinese temple with history tracing back more than a century. It has attracted a huge number of worshippers and pilgrims.

The temple's management has expressed strong opposition to the plan to have a hotel built near the monastery.

Suthi Jintananaruemit, a member of the temple's board, yesterday said it remained unclear as to whether the company's executives would have discussions with the temple's management on May 17.

"They have not yet confirmed the discussion," he said.

Suthi said the temple and its followers planned to stage a peaceful demonstration against the project on the afternoon of May 21. The Lawyers Council of Thailand has been looking into laws to determine what action can be taken to stop the plan.

"As for now, it's clear the firm has asked for permission to repair the building but it is actually modifying it," the council's board member Jessada Anujaree said.

He said if officials and authorities ignore the matter, he will consider taking action against them - but the process might take time.

Pom Prab District Office's public-works chief Prapassorn Kularb said he had ordered the suspension of any work on the main structure of the building. "If the firm wants to modify the main structure, it will have to submit a plan for review. If the plan is okay, I will approve it," he said.

Office of the Consumer Protection Board deputy secretary-general Jirachai Moonthongroy said the zoning laws should be invoked to ensure a hotel could not spring into operation close to the temple.

-- The Nation 2012-05-15

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EDITORIAL

Complacency the biggest danger for the economy

BANGKOK: -- The government seems oblivious to the dangers of overspending as it forges ahead to satisfy its supporters' craving for populist handouts

Full story:

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MP denies being in new Pheu Thai faction

Sakda

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai MPs in five provinces in the Northeast have grouped together to fight political problems in the ruling party while a majority of party members disagree with the move.

Full story:

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Many doors still closed to Bangkok's sick, poor

The 43-year-old man was sleeping on Bangkok's streets without a home and without hope.

BANGKOK: - His emaciated body, constant vomiting and diarrhoea clearly testified to his frail health, but no help was forthcoming from a hospital designated to provide free medical treatment for men like him.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....koks-sick-poor/

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Late star's daughter seeks protection

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The daughter of a former actress has submitted a petition to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) asking for protection from her aunt. She claims her aunt has been threatening her family following an inheritance dispute.

Sobeda Pongsawang is the daughter of late actress Wandee Sritrang aka Satana Pongsawang and Hyong Baikan aka Somchai Pongsawang. She claims her aunt, Rassamee Kan, forced her to transfer the land title deed for her house and illegally insisted on becoming the executor of the more than Bt1-billion left by her late father.

She said Rassamee claimed that she had the right, as an executor, to force her to transfer the land title. Sobeda also said that a group of unidentified men had also tried to kidnap her daughter from the Sacred Heart Convent School in Chiang Mai. As a result, she had had to move out of her home for six months due to safety reasons.

"I submitted the petition to the Justice Ministry and it provided an officer to guard my family and sought a new school for my daughter. But I'm still frightened, and have decided to inform the DSI," Sobeda said.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said he had assigned Pol Lt-Colonel Santana Kaewtubtim to seek more details from Sobeda, and if he finds her allegations are true, DSI will provide security for her.

-- The Nation 2012-05-15

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New work conditions for maids, trawler crews

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Housemaids and crew members of fishing trawlers will have their working conditions improved if an amendment to a labour regulation bill - approved in principle by the Cabinet yesterday - is passed on.

According to many altered conditions in the bill, those working as domestic maids are entitled to a weekly one day break, and have the choice of enjoying all national holidays or being paid for them. They will also be granted paid sick leave, and have paid vacations. The bill stipulates no person under 15 can be hired as a domestic.

Strict working conditions enforced on Thai and immigrant crew members working on fishing trawlers are also relaxed on trawlers with fewer than 20 crew members or on trawlers which travel off Thai waters for more than a year in each trip.

Full details of these conditions have yet to be released.

-- The Nation 2012-05-15

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Waterworks office to shelter 200 homeless

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will provide shelter for about 200 homeless people a day at the 4.3-rai former Mansri Waterworks office plot, which it has obtained on a 30-year lease from the Crown Property Bureau.

Deputy BMA governor Thaya Teepasuwan, yesterday said the three-storey building that used to house the waterworks office would be developed into a shelter to accommodate no more than 200 homeless people a day.

She said homeless people would be registered and screened on a daily basis to be eligible to stay there. The building modification for housing the homeless and providing them with occupational training would be completed by October 1.

Thaya said a six-storey building in the compound would also be renovated to serve as new offices for several BMA agencies, including the BMA University, the Health Forensic Office of the Health Department, and the Merit System Development Office. Building work is due to be completed in January. She said the old water tank would be turned into an observation tower.

-- The Nation 2012-05-15

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KPI students come up with peaceful options for South

TOSSAPORN WONGWAIKOLAYOOT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The situation in the three violence-plagued provinces in the South does not seem to be improving, and previous experiences have proved that coercion does very little to help. Hence, a group of students have come up with a new compromise - understand the unique culture of the South, so southerners can accept you.

After 10 months of extensive research, students from the Office of Peace and Governance at the King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI) have come up with the "City of Peace: Cultural Space as a Path to Peace in the deep South".

"After conducting interviews, we have learned that communities want their traditions and religion to be accepted. They don't want to pull away from Thailand, but want the law to tally with their way of life," Sompong Yingchonchareon, a member of the group and former mayor of the Yala municipality, said.

According to the study, changes are needed in three sectors - medical care, education and the enforcement of law.

The group suggested that medical personnel also become fluent in the Malayu language so they can communicate better with patients. The study also showed that medical personnel need to understand and provide facilities for Muslim patients' religious activities.

"Only seven of the 37 hospitals in the three provinces provide these facilities," Dr Petchdau Tohmeena, director of the Public Health Ministry's Mental Health Centre 15, said.

The study also revealed that schools need to teach in both Thai and Malayu, with teachers and the principal having a clear understanding of the culture.

In addition, the police - who are key law enforcers - need to review their responsibility.

Naree Chareonpolpiriya, a member of the students group, said that from 2004 to 2011, 8,247 cases have been filed with the police, but police have still not been able to verify 76.4 per cent of these cases. She said research shows that police officers need to focus on good governance, be more respecting of the culture and allow people to participate in solving problems.

"The government also needs to revoke the state of emergency and accept the local culture as a common law," Naree said.

Dr Borwornsak Uwanno, secretary-general of the KPI, said a study into the three public services proved that accepting traditions was more important than introducing economic measures.

General Akechai Srivilad, director of KPI's Office of Peace and Governance, however, said that though he does not believe the "City of Peace" would completely solve the problem of insurgency in the South, he did admit that it might be able to cut down on conditions that lead to violence.

"We have done more than 500 studies on resolving the problems in the South, but it is up to the government to decide if it wants to pay heed to them or not," Akechai said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-15

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Unionists 'laid off in wake of wage increase'

BANGKOK: -- Since the Bt300 daily minimum wage was launched on April 1, many businesses have been trying to lay off union activists or limit their roles to prevent them from fighting for workers' rights, a labour leader said yesterday.

Full story:

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Phuket Election: Aroon Solos re-elected Rawai Mayor

Preliminary results from yesterday’s local election in Phuket show that Aroon Solos has been re-elected Mayor of Rawai Municipality. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

PHUKET: -- According to preliminary results of the local election yesterday in Rawai, at the southern end of Phuket, Aroon Solos has been re-elected Mayor of Rawai Municipality.

Full story:

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NEW SAVVY

More Thais become Net savvy

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Internet users increased 26.77 per cent to rose to 25.09 million last year, though traffic on Thai websites showed a less than 1 per cent increase from the previous year.

Full story:

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REDS

Officials play down incidents involving opposition to red shirts

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Several government officials played down a rally by Pattaya red-shirts in protest against actress Bongkoj "Tak" Khongmalai and an incident involving locals in Phuket opposed to red-shirts - on the weekend.

Full story:

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Police arrest three foreigners for B30mn jewelry heist

Jewelry merchant Thongsak Chintakanroek, who was robbed of 30 million baht in precious jewelry in Phuket yesterday, said he had faith the police would catch the thieves 'soon'. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Police have arrested four people in connection with theft of 30 million baht of jewelry in Phuket yesterday morning while the were heading for the Malaysian border after.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....eist-in-phuket/

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Man Claimed to be Language Teacher Burglarizes Home

ANG THONG: -- A foreign man claimed to be a language teacher has committed a burglary on a primary school teacher's home in Ang Thong Province.

Ang Thong Province Police are reviewing the video footage recorded on a surveillance camera showing a French man named Howaris committing burglary at the home of Jintana Thongdeenoi, a teacher at a local primary school in Muang District.

The man has made off with nearly one million baht worth of possessions.

The victim told the police that he met Howaris, who had claimed to be a language teacher currently on a vacation in Thailand, through the internet and invited him to teach at a summer school.

The homeowner recounted that yesterday, the French man came to her house to talk about the teaching schedule. He also brought her a box of fruit juice. After he left, she drank the juice and passed out.

She woke up the next morning to discover that her safe vault storing jewelry and gold ornaments has been broken in. Her home was also ransacked with her car gone. The culprit only left an apologizing note written in English.

Police are currently conducting a manhunt in the area and surrounding provinces. The authority is confident that the man will be caught soon as he is not familiar with the area.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-15

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2 Hmong Villagers Nabbed with 400K Meth Pills

LAMPANG: -- Lampang Police have arrested two Hmong villagers and seized 420,000 methamphetamine pills hidden in a pick-up truck, as they were on their way to deliver the drugs to a client in Nakhon Sawan province.

Yesterday evening, Lampang Police arrested two Hmong villagers identified as 33-year-old Samran Charoenpatarakit and 34-year-old Kin Thappipat as well as seized 420,000 methamphetamine pills from a hidden storage in the body of their pick-up truck.

The suspects confessed that they were paid around 250,000 baht to buy the vehicle from a used car dealer and pick up the drugs at Mae Chan Intersection in Chiang Rai province and deliver them to a client in Nakhon Sawan province.

They said they would be paid another 200,000 baht after the delivery.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-15

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No drugs, no phones, Phuket Prison to gain 'White' status

Phuket Gazette

Corrections Department Deputy Director General Somsak Rangsiyopas, standing with Phuket Prison chief Rapin Nichanon and other prison officers, explains to young inmates about the scout training they are about to undergo. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Phuket Prison is to be awarded “White Prison” status after regular inspections of the provincial detention facility declared it free from drugs and illegal mobile phones.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....n-white-status/

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Foreign Gang Arrested on 30 Million Baht Diamond Heist

TRANG: -- The highway police have arrested five foreigners who are members of the gang suspected to have stolen more than 30 million baht worth of gems, jewelry, and gold ornaments in Trang Province. However, one female suspect managed to escape.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....25#entry5301668

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NBTC Bans 280 Mobile Phone Models from China

BANGKOK: -- The telecommunication regulator has imposed a ban on the import of 280 substandard cellphone models of 28 brands from China.

Full story:

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PM Concluding Bahrain Trip

The prime minister is concluding her visit to Bahrain before continuing on to Qatar this afternoon.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presided over a meeting with Thai-Bahraini businesses to promote trade and investment between the private sectors of the two countries.

In her speech, Yingluck said that she was pleased with her visit to Bahrain, which is the first stop of her Middle-Eastern tour.

She also outlined Thailand's plan to prevent future floods to the Bahraini investors attending the meeting.

On her last day in Bahrain, Yingluck is scheduled to visit the joint-maritime force command center at 10 AM and attend the luncheon hosted by the Bahrani prime minister.

In the afternoon, she will leave Bahrain and arrive at Doha International Airport at 3:25 PM local time.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-15

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Science Minister: Thailand floods caused by inefficient water management

BANGKOK, 15 May 2012 (NNT) – The Science and Technology Minister has admitted that inefficient water resources management is the root to the country’s inundation problem while insisting that the construction of Mae Wong Dam will not cause environmental impact.

Full story:

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Court issues arrest warrant for Kamphaeng Phet police superintendent for masterminding Sing Buri bank robbery in March /MCOT

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Deputy PM Yuthasak ignores rumour he'll be removed in Cabinet reshuffle; to focus on duties, solve southernmost provinces problem /MCOT