Thailand Live Wednesday 16 May 2012

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Thailand Live Wednesday 16 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 Tuesday 15 May 2012

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ENVIRONMENT

Police station to be relocated, as BMA plans to block off dump

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After struggling for seven years with a foetid stink from a garbage disposal site, officers from the Chalong Krung police station in Lat Krabang district have at last been given a reprieve - an office far away from the dump.

Full story:

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Red-shirt pavilion burnt down in Songkhla

The Nation

The remains of a pavilion in a newly opened red-shirt village in tambon Bangkae in Songkhla

Political rivals in Songkhla known to oppose red villages in area

SONGKHLA: -- The village pavilion of a new red-shirt village in Songkhla province was burnt down early yesterday, hours after its opening by red-shirt leaders and supporters in the South.

Full story:

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Map Ta Phut residents rally for govt's assistance

THE NATION

RAYONG: -- A group of protesters rallied outside Government House yesterday to demand that the authorities urgently start assisting those affected by the recent factory explosion in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong province.

Full story:

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GOODS PRICES

Rising costs: 4-month retail price freeze

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom's presence in a consumer product shop

Business representatives agree to curb price rises till mid-September

BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry yesterday successfully pushed for 200 manufacturers to maintain retail prices on goods for another four months - but without any supporting measures when this period expires.

Full story:

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BTS

Sukhumbhand, three others named in complaints

ANAPAT DEECHUAY

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai MPs yesterday filed a complaint against Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra and three other people to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) over a controversial contract recently granted to the current operator of the Skytrain system.

Full story:

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LESE MAJESTE LAW

Activists demand change

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Members of the Activists for Democracy Network along with some 30 relatives of political prisoners gathered at Government House yesterday demanding that the prisoners be released and the lese majeste law be amended.

The rally was inspired by the death of Amphon "Akong" Tangnoppakul, who was serving a sentence for allegedly sending text messages deemed defamatory to the Queen. The activists called on the government to help make the country a real democracy and give people being held over lese majeste charges their dignity. They also called on the authorities to improve conditions in jail and provide proper health care for ailing prisoners.

The network has joined the Nitirat Group and the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand in their call to amend Article 112 of the penal code.

Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, who is also interior minister and leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, said the government would consider the requests though it has already said that it would not touch the lese majeste law.

Yongyuth's statement was in line with Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit, who denied that the party had ever promised to amend Article 112 while campaigning for votes.

"During the campaign, we only spoke about amending articles that came from the 2006 coup. Article 112 does not have anything to do with this," Prompong said.

He said when they used the word "justice" during the election campaign, they meant equal law enforcement, but Amphon's case had to do with the court process and law enforcers. He said amending laws is a right guaranteed by the Constitution, but the majority must agree to it.

"I personally agree with the law and see no need to change it," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-16

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COMPENSATION

Bt3.2m proposed for violence victims

Atapoom Ongkulna

The Nation

BANGKOK: - The Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand has proposed that Bt3.24 million be given as compensation for "death from political unrest" in a sum based on the minimum wage.

Full story:

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Pound Hits 50, How Long Will The Trend Last?

Full story:

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BURNING ISSUE

Love and hate, our great political divide

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Years of continued political conflict has led a substantial number of Thais on both sides of the political divide to succumb to hatred instead of sticking to whatever principle they claimed to stand for.

Full story:

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Keep away from our base, army warns miners

PONGPHON SARNSAMAK

THE NATION

UDON THANI: -- A mining concession sought by the Asia Pacific Potash Corporation (APPC) is likely to face opposition from the Royal Thai Army, which says that the mining activities would encroach on a military base in Udon Thani and affect its underground weapons storage.

Full story:

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EDUCATION

Thailand ranks 41 in university ranking

THE NATION

Thailand is in 41st place in a recent ranking of universities in 48 countries.

BANGKOK: -- While Thailand is ahead of seven other countries, including India and Indonesia, it lags behind China and Malaysia when it comes to the quality of higher education. China is at No 39 while Malaysia is in 36th place.

Full story:

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3 men sentenced for human trafficking

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Appeals Court yesterday sentenced a Myanmar national to 14 and half years in jail, and gave 13 and a half years to his two accomplices in a human-trafficking case. The three men were found guilty of forcing their compatriots to work on fishing boats for no pay.

The three men had initially been sentenced to 19 years and 16 years in jail respectively.

The three defendants, aged between 34 and 43, facing charges of human trafficking, illegal detention and obstructing officials, were being sued for conspiring to lure Myanmar nationals across the border by falsely offering them jobs at a shrimp factory in Samut Sakhon from July to August 3, 2009. They allegedly said the victims would be paid Bt300 daily.

However, once the victims crossed over to Thailand, they were detained in a rented room in Chon Buri and later forced to work on a fishing boat for no money, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit was filed after the defendants demanded a Bt15,000 ransom from a victim's family, who then contacted Thai authorities leading to their arrest.

-- The Nation 2012-05-16

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Farmers struggle to cover school fees

JAKKAPAN RAWIWAN

THE NATION

KALASIN: -- Hundreds of farmers were jostling to sell off their harvest at the main Kalasin market yesterday, in order to have enough money to cover the cost of back-to-school necessities as schools get ready to reopen this week.

Most of the farmers had to sell off the rice they would have normally kept for personal consumption because they did not have anything else of value. The farmers said they hoped their children would study hard and become the country's future, though they also hoped that the government would help subsidise school expenses.

Thanapol Thammanokajit, the market manager, said there were more than 100 farmers selling off rice and paddy seeds, which meant up to 800 tonnes of the grain was traded every day.

In related news, Narathiwat Special Unit commander Maj-General Kampanat Ruddit yesterday presented some consumer goods, educational tools ands sports equipment to Ban Tagno School in Narathiwat's Joh I Rong district. Suspected insurgents burned down the school on April 18, and he said that kind people had donated these items to help the 203 students.

In a move to prepare for the start of the semester todayon Wednesday, school director Sakee Sama-ae has borrowed desks, chairs and other necessary items from other schools in the district and set up temporary classrooms, while the new school building is being constructed.

Sakee is also calling on people to make donations to the Ban Tagno School Relief Operation Centre via Krungthai Bank savings account number 906-0-39106-3. He can be contacted at phone number (080) 714 1010.

-- The Nation 2012-05-16

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Gunfight in Krabi over plantation land

The Nation

KRABI: -- A gunfight between security guards at an oil palm plantation and Khlong Khanan Samakkhee residents, who seized the concession-expired land in Nua Khlong district in Krabi on Monday evening, resulted in one man being shot and five others reportedly arrested by police later.

Khane Anantakul, 42, who sustained a gunshot wound under his left armpit and another shot to his shoulder, was in a stable condition at Krabi Hospital yesterday after undergoing surgery.

A leading demonstrator, Boon Phongphetch, 72, told police that Khane was taking pictures of some 200 protesters from Khlong Khanan Samakkhee who tried to seize the plantation, when five security guards opened fire at them with shotguns several times.

Some demonstrators fired back, resulting in a gunfight. Khane was hit by bullets and the security guards fled, Boon said. So the demonstrators seized the plantation.

Police collected two spent .22 bullets, plus 10 spent 9mm bullets and three shotgun cartridges as evidence. It was later reported that police had apprehended five suspects involving in the shooting.

-- The Nation 2012-05-16

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Chance for new artists

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Cultural Promotion (DCP) has opened the Thailand Cultural Centre up to new artists to present their works to the public.

DCP chief Prissana Pongtadsirikul told a press conference yesterday about the "Sing, Dance and Compose Music" project, in which young artists can make use of the centre's space to present their works and talents through six activities free-of-charge.

The activities are a May 27 concert featuring international-award-winning Thai singers; the "NERANNENAH" concert by the Thailand Choral Association on June 16; the "Ruam Smai Big Band" concert by musicians of the Office of Contemporary Art And Culture's Musical Potential Development Project from June 29-July 1; the "Mother of Land" singing contest for a Bt100,000 cash prize from July 6-7 and Thai folk-song concert on July 8; a Wind Orchestra concert by young musicians from Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University on July 13-15; and a classical music concert by the Youth Music Promotion Foundation on August 12.

For more information, call (02) 247 0028 extensions 4119 or 4162, or visit www.culture.go.th.

-- The Nation 2012-05-16

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Spotlight on suspect funding deals

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some 40 Democrats have lined up for the budget debate and will focus on two key issues - suspicious allocations to ministries under Pheu Thai supervision and inefficient disbursement of flood-related funds.

The debate is scheduled to take place from Monday to Wednesday next week. Coalition and opposition lawmakers will each have 13 hours to speak on the House floor.

"The Democrats want to call attention to the politicking behind the budgetary allocations," opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanawisit said.

Jurin said Pheu Thai ministries seemed to enjoy a lopsided increase in budgetary allocations. The PM's Office saw an increase of nearly 15 per cent while the Information and Communication Technology Ministry would enjoy a whopping 109 per cent increase.

The Labour Ministry would get a 132 per cent jump in earmarked funds. And emergency funds under the direct mandate of the prime minister would rise 11.7 per cent from Bt67 billion to Bt73 billion.

Jurin went on to question why only about Bt54 billion of Bt120 billion allocated for post-flooding reconstruction had been disbursed.

The government's deficit budget policy for the 2013 fiscal year would allocate the largest chunk - 19 per cent - to the Education Ministry, an informed source said yesterday.

The Budget Bureau has calculated the budget for the 2013 fiscal year with total spending set at Bt2.4 trillion. This is Bt20 billion up from the previous annual budget, the source said, with the budget set at 19.1 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The deficit budget policy gives importance to state agencies' improving their spending efficiency while considering other sources of funding, such as loans. It also gives more importance to state agencies' work in line with the government's policy announcement to the House, especially 16 urgent policies, the source said.

Regular spending was set at Bt1,902 billion - a Bt61.24 billion increase from the previous year - while the capital budget was at Bt449 billion - a Bt10.4 billion increase from last year. Loan repayments were set at Bt49.15 billion - a Bt2.3 billion increase from last year, the source said.

The largest chunk went to the Education Ministry at Bt460 billion followed by the central budget at Bt319.21 billion and Interior Ministry at Bt309.21 billion.

Government income was estimated at Bt164.3 billion, mostly from tax, while economic growth in 2013 was projected at 4.5 per cent with an inflation rate of 3.8 per cent.

-- The Nation 2012-05-16

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Police officer arrested, warrant out for superintendent on cash-delivery truck robbery

BANGKOK, May 16 - A police officer was apprehended for involvement in the March 26 cash delivery truck robbery in which over Bt4 million was stolen and one employee was wounded by a gunman after his arrest warrant was issued by the court.

Full story:

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Jurin lists concerns about charter amendment process

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The chief opposition whip voiced serious concerns yesterday over the charter-amendment process, as it was announced that the third session of parliamentary hearings has been scheduled for June 5.

Jurin Laksanawisit said he was very worried about many aspects of the charter amendment.

First, he said, there was a danger that the 22 non-elected expert members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) - who are to be appointed by Parliament - will all be nominees favoured by the government.

Second, the secret vote by which the 22 members are to be appointed would be vulnerable to fraud.

Third, people might criticise any charter referendum as being held without a proper parliamentary debate.

Fourth, the new constitution may be drawn up to benefit a certain individual.

Fifth, Jurin said, there was no rule prohibiting CDA members from serving as politicians for at least five years after the process was complete. Charter drafters could be tempted to act in anticipation of a political reward from the government, he said.

"I ask everyone to closely observe the charter amendment process," Jurin said.

Meanwhile, Mahidol University's Research Centre for Peace Building will organise a series of public discussions aimed at soliciting ideas on charter change, lecturer Gothom Arya said yesterday.

"I don't expect the new charter to incorporate all of the ideas raised at the discussions, but the people will be given a chance to air their views on what the charter should look like," he said.

Gothom was speaking after Monday's completion of the second reading of the charter-amendment bill. The third and final reading on June 5 will pave the way for the formation of the CDA.

He said the public discussions would focus on nine issues to be brought to the attention of charter drafters. The topics include allowing independent candidates to contest general elections, a revamp of the Senate, the work guidelines for independent organisations and the involvement of the legislative branch in vetting the nomination of the Supreme Court president.

He said ideas compiled at the public discussions would be presented to the CDA.

-- The Nation 2012-05-16

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RT @KristieKenney: Off to see malaria treatment post in Ranong. @USAIDAsia spends $12 million for malaria control in Mekong region

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Indonesia bans Lady Gaga concert

News Desk

The Jakarta Post

Lady Gaga (2010). File photo. Source: wikipedia

JAKARTA: -- US pop singer Lady Gaga has received the dubious honour of becoming the first foreign artist to be denied a concert permit by Indonesian authorities.

Full story:

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Oil truck overturns on Sukhumvit Rd in Bangpra, Chon Buri causing traffic congestion /TANN

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TAT hopes to present revamped Thailand Elite Card project to Cabinet by end of May

BANGKOK, 16 May 2012 (NNT) – The Thai tourism authority is hopeful to present the revamped Thailand Elite Card project for the Cabinet to review very soon.

Full story:

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Weather bureau issued heavy rain,flash flood warning for residents in the North, NE, East and SW from Wed to Fri /The Nation

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Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,168.42, down 16.13 points /MCOT

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National Warning Center: Heavy rain expected throughout Thailand

BANGKOK, 16 May 2012 (NNT) – The National Warning Center has issued the latest advice on the possibilities of scattered heavy rain throughout the country during the next couple of days.

Full story:

Weather forecasts for all Thai provinces

http://weather.thaivisa.com/

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Celebration for 2,600th anniversary for Buddha’s Enlightenment to be held

BANGKOK, 16 May 2012 (NNT) - A well-known Buddhism university is prepared to organize the 9th International Day of Vesak event, with a focus on special celebration on the 2,600th year anniversary of Buddha’s Enlightenment.

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Weather warning for Phuket, Andaman coast

Phuket Gazette

Traffic makes its way along Thepkrasattri Road, Phuket's main road linking the airport with the rest of the island, through the heavy rain this morning. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

This satellite image provided by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) shows the dense cloud cover passing over Phuket and the Andaman coast, causing heavy rains and prompting the TMD to issue a ‘Heavy Weather Warning’ for the region. Image: TMD

PHUKET: -- With heavy downpours causing traffic tailbacks and minor flooding across Phuket roads this morning, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a “Heavy Weather Warning” covering Phuket and other provinces along the Andaman coast.

Full story:

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Soldier Linked with Barrack Sex Scandal

Full story: