Thailand Live Sunday 20 May 2012

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Thailand Live Sunday 20 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 Saturday 19 May 2012

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[Lite Beer]

Red shirts call for justice

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK:-- Leaders mark 2010 crackdown; voice upset at govt inaction; Ratchaprasong crowd estimated at tens of thousands; CentralWorld, Gaysorn forced to close

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556403-red-shirts-call-for-justice/#entry5315467

[Lite Beer]

Three red groups compete for allegiance from villages

The Nation

Red shirts yesterday revisited what many consider to be a shrine or a sanctuary.

Ratchaprasong, however, is symbolic at best. Their real homes are upcountry, and they are taking on a political significance of their own.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556404-three-red-groups-compete-for-allegiance-from-villages/#entry5315469

[Lite Beer]

Parents, teachers give O-Net low marks

Saowanee Nimpanpayungwong

The Nation on Sunday

Chinnapat

BANGKOK:-- Parents and teachers are split over whether the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) should provide the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-Net) to grade 6, 9 and 12 students as a condition for their exit exam results - and as a qualification to enter new schools.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556405-parents-and-teachers-give-o-net-low-marks/#entry5315474

[Lite Beer]

Concern over drop in enrolments for agriculture

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK:-- Fewer students have enrolled in agricultural fields over the past few years - and the drop in enrolments in such fields could cause Thailand to fall behind other countries, an academic said recently.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556407-concern-over-drop-in-enrolments-for-agriculture/#entry5315480

[Lite Beer]

Scorching heat causing slight damage to ancient ruins in Surin Province

SURIN, 20 May 2012 (NNT) – The scorching heat across Thailand has caused damage to the ancient ruins in northeastern Surin Province.

As temperature in Thailand shows no sign of dropping anytime soon, the relentless heat has started to cause physical damages to a number of ancient structures.

In Surin Province, Prasat Sikharaphum or the Sikharaphum Temple, an ancient religious complex which consists of 4 main brick structures have suffered more cracks and tears despite recent restoration.

The 17th-century, Khmer architectural-style complex earlier went through a face-lift, which utilized new bricks due to the impact of continued hot weather.

However, experts commented that the modern-era bricks may not be strong as much as ancient bricks, to withstand severe hot and humid conditions, especially when rain has occurred from time to time.

The Fine Arts Department has dispatched a team of officials to check on the damages before another round of restoration will be accordingly launched.

-- NNT 2012-05-20

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Govt has neglected commitments to world on South

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- Allowing the OIC visit was a positive step, but Bangkok continues to resist open discussion about the insurgency

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556408-govt-has-neglected-commitments-to-world-on-south-editorial/

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Last day for Pet Expo Thailand 2012 at Queen Sirikit (QSNCC) 10am-8pm

[Lite Beer]

RT@mpoppel: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg changes relationship status to "married"

[Lite Beer]

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg upgrades relationship status

Zuckerberg has updated his relationship status to "married"

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556421-facebook-founder-mark-zuckerberg-upgrades-relationship-status/#entry5315740

[george]

Thai Lady Boy Beats 200 Other Women In Modelling Contest

Full story, pic: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556320-thai-lady-boy-beats-200-other-women-in-modelling-contest/

[Lite Beer]

Mobile cabinet meeting in Kanchanaburi mulls economic development projects involving Myanmar including construction of new motorway to Kanchanaburi /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

PTT to lower the prices of all oil products by 30 satang/l and E20 by 50 satang/l tomorrow at 5am /TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

RT@mpoppel: Sky Italia: At least 1 dead, 2 injured in Italian city of Ferrara following strong quake

RT@mpoppel: Sky Italia: Church collapses in Finale Emilia following quake

RT@mpoppel: UPDATE: USGS upgrades magnitude of Italy quake to 6.0; says heavy damage possible

RT@mpoppel: UPDATE: Italian newspaper il Resto del Carlino reports death toll in Ferrara reaches 3 following quake

RT@mpoppel: PHOTO: Residential building partly collapsed following Italy quake - http://t.co/u8km47P3

[Lite Beer]

Police arrest a suspect transporting 270,000 speed pills and 8kg of crystalized meth worth Bt100 mn from Laos to Saraburi /TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

RT@ThaiPrisonLife: In 6 months of raids on 50 prisons around Thailand, police confiscated 9,513 mobile phones, 58,991 methamphetamine pills & 6,577g of ice.

[Lite Beer]

Cabinet mulls projects to develop Thailand's western province

KANCHANABURI, May 20 – An on-site upcountry Cabinet meeting on Sunday pondered many projects intended to develop the economy and support the future growth of the western province of Kanchanaburi, bordering neighbouring Myanmar.

The Regional Joint Public/Private Sector Consultative Committee would proposed to the cabinet meeting held in Kanchanaburi to support a Thai concessionaire in the Dawei deep sea port and 68,000-acre industrial estate project in Myanmar, with an investment budget of 190 billion baht, in order to ensure tangible results in 2015.

The cabinet would also considered Thai infrastructure development projects, including a 90-kilometre motorway connecting Nonthaburi’s Bangyai adjacent to the capital to the western province of Kanchanaburi, with an investment of 45 billion baht, as well as a 70-kilometre extension route to Baan Phunamron at the Thai–Myanmar border.

The committee also agreed that three border checkpoints -- Three Pagodas, Baan Phunamron and Singkorn – should be designated permanent border checkpoints to facilitate freight transportation and tourism. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-05-20

[Lite Beer]

RT@mpoppel: Death toll after strong earthquake in northern Italy rises to 4 - Sky Italia

[Lite Beer]

EGAT assures major dams unaffected by Myanmar quake

KANCHANABURI, 20 May 2012 (NNT) - Officials have confirmed that the latest earthquake in Myanmar has not posed any impact on Thailand's 2 major dams.

Sri Nakarin Dam Director Boon-in Chuenchavalit said on Sunday that officials have inspected the structures of Sri Nakarin and Vajiralongkorn dams this morning following reports of a tremor in neighboring Myanmar.

At around 2 am local time, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake was reported in Myanmar.

Mr. Boon-in said that the inspection found that both dams have not been affected by the quake as the epicenter is 290 kms and 353 kms far from Sri Nakarin and Vajiralongkorn dams, respectively.

He went on to say that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), which oversees power production at both dams, has been checking on them regularly with a detection system installed to ensure timely measures to deal with any situation.

-- NNT 2012-05-20

[Lite Beer]

Thailand-Cambodia Joint Trade Committee meeting held in preparation for AEC

BANGKOK, 20 May 2012 (NNT) – Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom is, on Sunday, scheduled to co-chair the 3rd meeting of Thailand-Cambodia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) at the Four Seasons Hotel in preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

An objective of the meeting, which is the very first in the last five years, is to improve bilateral trade and investment relations between the two nations.

Both countries will jointly consider solutions to overcome trade difficulties and obstacles which will pave ways for mutual interests of the two countries and enhance preparedness for the launch of AEC in the next 3 years. The AEC will allow a liberalization of trade in goods and services, investment, and labor mobility.

Among Thailand’s neighboring countries, Cambodia relies on cross border trade the most. Its last year’s cross border trade value accounts for 80 % of the total trade value.

-- NNT 2012-05-20

[Lite Beer]

Border police in Nakhon Phanom seize 198 kg of marijuana worth Bt5 million, intended for sale abroad /MCOT

Cabinet approves Bt33 billion investment for development of 8 central provinces, supports development projects, linking to Myanmar’s Dawei /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Monk defrocked after alleged drunk, drugged altercation at funeral

Phuket Gazette –

Mr Nusit is currently being held at the Phuket Town Police Staion.

Officers lead Mr Nusit from the scene, Wat Saensuk temple in Phuket Town, after the altercation this morning.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556483-monk-defrocked-after-alleged-drunk-drugged-altercation-at-funeral/#entry5316510

[Lite Beer]

MOBILE CABINET MEETING

Meeting to consider development projects

KANCHANABURI:-- A mobile Cabinet meeting in Kanchaburi on Sunday would ponder many projects intended to develop the economy and support the future growth of the province.

The Regional Joint Public/Private Sector Consultative Committee would propose to the cabinet meeting held to support a Thai concessionaire in the Dawei deep sea port and 68,000-acre industrial estate project in Myanmar, with an investment budget of 190 billion baht, in order to ensure tangible results in 2015.

Thai News Agency reported the cabinet would also consider Thai infrastructure development projects, including a 90-kilometre motorway connecting Nonthaburi's Bangyai adjacent to the capital to the western province of Kanchanaburi, with an investment of 45 billion baht, as well as a 70-kilometre extension route to Baan Phunamron at the Thai-Myanmar border.

The committee also agreed that three border checkpoints -- Three Pagodas, Baan Phunamron and Singkorn - should be designated permanent border checkpoints to facilitate freight transportation and tourism.

Regarding tourism along the Gulf of Thailand, the committee would propose that both Cha-am in Phetchaburi and Pranburi in Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces be announced as special zones to monitor tourism development standards

-- The Nation 2012-05-20

[Lite Beer]

POLITICS

Thaksin is more than welcome to Pheu Thai Party

BANGKOK:-- Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra is more than welcome to apply for a membership of Pheu Thai Party, its spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Sunday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556491-thaksin-is-more-than-welcome-to-pheu-thai-party/#entry5316621

[Lite Beer]

Cabinet approves anti-money laundering, anti terrorism bills for parliament; TH expects removal from Money Laundering gray list by 2013 /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@ThaiPrisonLife: Mr @RobertAmsterdam: "Thailand must reach international standards in their prisons. Conditions in Thai prisons are a disgrace."

[Lite Beer]

Cabinet announces freeze on subway fares rise for another 3 months /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Eurozone debt crisis limits economic growth of Thailand

BANGKOK, 20 May 2012 (NNT) – An economic expert has projected that Thailand’s GDP this year should reach 5.9%; although the Eurozone debt crisis has an impact on Thai economic growth.

Director of the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), Thanawat Polwichai, shared his view that the sovereign debt crisis in Greece would cause a minor indirect effect on Thailand thanks to a small number of Thai exports to Greece.

Mr. Thanawat said however that the ongoing Eurozone debt predicament has restricted an expansion of the Thai economy. Without it, Thailand’s trade, investment, exports as well as tourism business could have been more robust. However, he said, a drastic negative impact from the crisis has yet to come to Thailand.

Despite that, the economic expert said that the UTCC has not yet revised its projection for the country’s GDP growth of 5.9%, which is also in the same range as those predicted by the Bank of Thailand, the office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, and the Ministry of Finance which range between 5.5-6 %.

Mr. Thanawat also expressed his concern over a problem of insufficient labor in the future once the AEC is in effect, saying Thailand would inevitably face labor shortage.

-- NNT 2012-05-20

[Lite Beer]

Cabinet resolved to postpone oil tax increase by another month

BANGKOK, 20 May 2012 (NNT) - The Cabinet has resolved to further delay its planned increase in the excise tax on diesel to help ease consumer burden.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Pakdihan Himathongkam said on Sunday that the Cabinet meeting today resolved to keep the current excise tax rate for diesel unchanged for one more month.

Initially, the government has planned to adjust the tax rate up on June 1st. The adjustment will now take place on July 1st.

Mr.Pakdihan said that the postponement is intended to allow the government to monitor the direction of global crude price for some more time, in hopes that the world price may ease.

He added that the delayed upward adjustment is also aimed at helping consumers cope with the higher cost of living, induced by rising world oil price.

-- NNT 2012-05-20