Thailand Live Monday 21 May 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 21 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 Sunday 20 May 2012

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POLITICS

Yingluck refuses to talk about Jatuporn or Cabinet reshuffle

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has kept everyone guessing her next move despite the changing political developments.

Full story:

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Real brain of Pheu Thai to keep its low profile

Achara Deboonme,

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prommin Lertsuridej, praised by his boss, fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as the brains behind the now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, has vowed not to seek any political position once the five-year political ban on him and 110 other TRT executives ends on May 30.

Full story:

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Return of the big guns

The Nation

About half of the 111 expected to formally re-enter politics

BANGKOK: -- In a little over a week, 111 former executives of the Thai Rak Thai Party will be free from the fiveyear political ban that came with a court order to disband their twice ruling party.

Full story:

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Thai Rak Thai's 111 played key roles for red shirts

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party has adopted a "two legs strategy" of dual politicking inside and outside of Parliament since its former lives as the Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties.

Full story:

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'Dirty tricks' ahead of Mae Wong Dam hearing today

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

NAKHON SAWAN: -- Thousands of people in Lat Yao district in Nakhon Sawan and nearby areas will join a public hearing today to learn about an environmental and health impact assessment (EHIA) linked to the Mae Wong Dam.

Full story:

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Opponents of Chinatown temple to stage rally

Anupan Jantana

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Supporters of Bangkok's Leng Noei Yi Temple will stage a short march Monday to show their opposition to the Station1@China Town project.

The project is developing a building on a land plot adjacent to the famous Chinese temple.

To the temple's management and staunch followers, the project appears set to include a hotel, even though it will be dubbed as a serviced apartment.

"Our activities will start with lighting candles and saying prayers inside the temple," Pisitchanon Niwattanakul, a member of the Leng Noei Yi Temple's board, said yesterday.

He said the participants in the campaign would gather at 10.30 am. After the candle-lighting and prayer rituals, they would attend a seminar on Chinese culture and arts, as well as safety in high-rise buildings.

"The march will start around noon," Pisitchanon said.

The procession will leave Leng Noei Yi Temple via its gate on Charoenkrung Road and move a short distance before re-entering via another gate.

"We will make the activities outside the temple brief because we don't want to paralyse traffic," he said.

Some 500 people from local communities and the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation will definitely join today's activities, Pisitchanon said.

"We believe some more people who have learnt about our activities from social media will also join in," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-21

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NBTC turns down Real Move plea

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Real Move's attempt to quickly expand its subscriber base has hit a snag after the national broadcasting and telecom watchdog declined to award the remaining 1.75 million mobile-phone numbers out of the 3.5 million allotted to CAT Telecom, which will pass on most numbers to Real Move to provide service.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Energy credit card fails to tackle the real issue

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- What taxi drivers and other low-income groups really need are some relief from the rising cost of living, not access to more credit

Full story:

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American fugitive in Phuket faces deportation to US

Phuket Gazette

American Michael Matos, 46, was arrested in Phuket on Friday. He now faces deportation to the United States to faces charges involving cocaine and involvement in lewd shows. Photo: Golf – Thai Rath

PHUKET: - An American man arrested in Phuket on Friday faces deportation to the United States, where is wanted by the Californian Supreme Court on drugs charges and involvement in lewd shows.

Full story:

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POLITICS

Tax exemption for victims of political violence

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Cabinet met in Kanchanaburi yesterday and approved a Finance Ministry proposal for an incometax exemption for people and legal entities adversely affected by political violence between 2005 to 2010, deputy government spokesman Anusorn Iamsaard said yesterday.

Ministerial directives would also be issued to provide compensation and grants to those affected by political turmoil, including those in the restive south who have been hard hit by insurgency.

ICT Minister Anudit Nakornthap said the Cabinet has approved a budget of Bt400 million from central funds for the ministry to use in the management of computer tablets for students. The money would be spent on a plan to develop controls and monitoring systems, and content development.

The ministry has been assigned to provide the tablets, systems to manage the provision of curricula for them and install WiFi.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said the Cabinet had approved amendments to the Money Laundering Act and Terrorism Act proposed by the ministry. The PM would endorse the bills and have them published in Royal Gazette.

The government would also restructure the Office AntiMoney Laundering Commission and increase its workforce to improve its efficiency in carrying out work.

The move came after the Financial Action Task Force FATV added Thailand to a "highrisk" blacklist for its lack of controls to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was set up by the G7 in 1989 to combat money laundering and the funding of terrorism.

The minister said his ministry would notify the FATF that the legal amendments had been made and the FATF would meet in February next year to decide on removing Thailand from its list.

The main change is to bring the two laws in line with international practice. People found guilty of money laundering would face up to 10 years' jail and fines of up to Bt400,000, while legal entities would face fines of up to Bt5 million.

-- The Nation 2012-05-21

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Budget fight to offer taste of censure debate

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The budget debate, scheduled from Monday to Wednesday, will likely see the Democrats staging a dress rehearsal for the upcoming parliamentary censure debate, expected to take place in August.

"The Democrats are fully ready to call the attention of the government as well as the public to flaws in the Budget Bill," Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

Abhisit said the budget failed to address several long-term issues. One was the government's mobilisation of funds for populist policies while economic disparities remain neglected, he said.

Certain spending plans, such as the funds earmarked for red-shirt villages, might further drive a wedge between groups in society, he said.

He voiced suspicion that the government was relying on off-budget spending to manipulate and lower the fiscal deficit.

He went on to raise many issues such as the apparent lack of a well-conceived energy policy, the inefficiency of the rice-pledging scheme, and the lack of spending details for funds allocated to post-flood recovery projects.

Some 40 Democrats and 30 Pheu Thai MPs have lined up to speak on the House floor during the three-day debate on Bt2.44-trillion budget.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the coalition MPs would focus on rebutting the opposition's claims, particularly the allegation that Pheu Thai-supervised ministries seem to have enjoyed disproportionate increases in spending allocations.

Prompong said the spending plans, such as an upgrade of work skills under the Labour Ministry, were justified. He denied that Pheu Thai was dominating the budgetary allocations.

"If the Democrats try to turn the budget debate into a censure in order to discredit the government, some 20 Pheu Thai MPs plan to lodge protests to rein in the opposition's speeches," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-21

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Harvard plans to launch Thai studies initiative

Rattana Promrak

Special to The Nation

Boston

Prof Michael Herzfeld proposes $6m fundraising move

BOSTON: -- Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, has launched a Thai Studies Initiative in an attempt to expand knowledge and research about Thailand among the local and international academic community.

Full story:

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CHALK TALK

Key Factors to Look into in Reforming Accountability System in Education

DILAKA LATHAPIPAT

BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) and the National Institute of Educational Testing Service (NIETS) have proposed that the Education Ministry use O-Net exam scores and students' cumulative grade point average to determine the completion of Grades 6, 9 and 12.

Full story:

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Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb dies aged 62 after long battle with cancer

By SARAH FITZMAURICE and SARA NATHAN

Robin Gibb 2008. File photo, source: wikimedia

Robin Gibb has died aged 62

LONDON: -- The musician died after undergoing intestinal surgery and due to his long battle with cancer.

Full story:

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Sex tourism to Thailand and Indonesia driving rise in HIV cases

BY: BY KATE KYRIACOU From: The Courier-Mail

DRUNKEN lads' holidays in Thailand and Indonesia, involving unprotected sex with prostitutes, are boosting Queensland's HIV rate.

Full story:

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Train hits woman crossing rail track at Asoke Rd; victim sent to hospital with critical injuries while traffic backs up to Ratchayothin /TANN

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A Womens Version Of Pattaya ...

Graphic film about European women sex tourists and their encounters with Kenyan beachboys goes down a storm in Cannes:

Full story:

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18-yr-old Budriyah U-ngamsil who was hit by train while crossing rail track on Asoke Rd this morning has died from massive injuries /TANN

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,153.25, down 1.19 points /MCOT

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Swedish man arrested in Pattaya for allegedly robbing money trucks in Denmark, Sweden

The Nation

CHONBURI: - Police have arrested a Swedish man in Pattaya for allegedly having holding drug parties in his rented apartment.

Full story:

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Thai economy rebounds strongly from flood crisis

Bangkok, May 21, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand's economy posted double-digit growth in the first quarter of 2012, rebounding from the fallout of last year's devastating floods, official data showed Monday.

Full story:

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New tiger cubs born in Chiang Mai Night Safari

CHIANG MAI, 21 May 2012 (NNT) – The Chiang Mai Night Safari has successfully bred three Bengal tigers and two panthers in one week.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....i-night-safari/

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Phuket Police call in Interpol over gem heist suspects

Phuket Gazette

Mexican national Ruben Gonzales, arrested on Monday, was back in Phuket to conduct a re-enactment of the 30-million-baht heist. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Roslina Binti Abu Bakarin hides her face in tears at the press conference on Tuesday. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Police have sent a missive to Interpol to confirm whether or not three foreigners arrested for the theft of 30 million baht in gems and jewelry on Monday are wanted international felons.

Full story:

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Samut Prakan Police Stop Booze Smuggling Truck

SAMUT PRAKAN Police have stopped a truck and arrested its driver for transporting 386 cases of smuggled alcohol worth more than three million baht in Samut Prakan Province.

Police have arrested 45-year-old Somsak Laosiku, who is suspected of smuggling 386 cases of imported whiskey worth more than three million baht.

The six wheeler truck used to transport the contraband was also confiscated in the arrest that took place in Muang District of Samut Prakan Province.

The suspect has confessed that he was hired for 50,000 baht to transport the cases from Songkhla Province to a customer in Samut Prakan Province.

He has also admitted to having done this many times before.

He was arrested for the similar crime four months ago but managed to jump bail. According to the suspect, there are many alcohol smugglers operating out of Songkhla Province.

Initially, the truck driver has been charged with contraband smuggling which carries a maximum fine four times the value of the seized items or a five-year imprisonment. He is now being detained by Samut Prakan Provincial Police.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-21

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Teenage girl dies after being hit by train

BANGKOK, May 21--- A woman was hit and killed by an oncoming train in downtown Bangkok on Monday morning as she crossed the Asok-Phetchaburi railroad crossing.

Full story:

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Truck Drivers Complain of Police Shakedowns in Nan Province

NAN: -- A group of ten wheeler truck operators has complained that a high-ranking police officer is extorting them 20,000 baht for each truck crossing the Thai-Laotian border.

A group of ten wheeler truck operators has gathered in front of Nan Provincial Town Hall to file a complaint, claiming that a high-ranking police officer at Chalermprakiat Police Station is extorting them 20,000 baht for each truck crossing the Thai-Laotian border.

Their complaint was heard by Deputy Nan Governor Adisorn Pittayayon.

One of the truck operators, Dusit Thepkorb, said that the drivers have greatly been affected since the police officer in question was transferred to the area.

If any of their trucks does not have proper documentation, it would be imposed a 20,000 baht fine.

However, no receipt has ever been given for the paid fines, and the drivers would be barred to enter the area if the fine is not paid.

The truck operators said that a new regulation has recently been introduced, requiring them to obtain permits before they can drive their trucks across the border.

However, the customs officials understand that they are still in the permit application process and choose to relax the new regulation for the time being.

The deputy Nan governor later coordinated with the Nan Provincial Police Bureau commander to investigate the case.

The police commander claimed that the bureau has no policy to ask truck operators for money and any police officers found guilty will face an immediately disciplinary action.

In the mean time, all police units in the area will be ordered not to enforce the new regulation until the truck operators' permits have been approved.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-21

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Phuket pileup kills woman, 21

Phuket Gazette

The driver of the car said the impact of the frozen goods pickup truck slamming into his car from behind caused him to lose control while he was driving toward Phuket Airport. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

The frozen goods pickup truck, heading north from Phuket Town, suffered little damage in the collision. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: -- A rear-end collision spun a car out of control on Thepkrasattri Road in Koh Kaew yesterday morning, causing the car to slam into a motorbike, killing the rider.

Full story:

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Schools to remain in session during WEF meeting

BANGKOK, 21 May 2012 (NNT) - During the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has assigned the Royal Thai Police to take care of traffic during the World Economic Forum on East Asia, which will be held in Bangkok, adding that schools will be in session as usual.

According to acting government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard, the premier has ordered the police to inform people in Bangkok about the upcoming World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF), which will be held from May 30th-June 1st at the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok. The police will facilitate traffic for world leaders to commute during the meeting, while schools in Bangkok will still be in session on the days.

Residents in nearby location are asked to understand the situation and be good hosts to the world leaders attending the forum.

-- NNT 2012-05-21