Thailand Live Monday 21 May 2012

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PM Attends House Budget Debate

BANGKOK: - The prime minister has attended the House debate on the next fiscal year budget and asked the Opposition to hear the government out before making criticism.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has attended the House debate on the 2013 fiscal year budget today. She has also remarked on the Opposition's claim that the budget plan proposed by the government has incorporated too many populist programs, asking the lawmakers consider the plan's details before making any criticism.

According to the prime minister, the government's budget plan aims to stimulate the economy and prepare the country for the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

Meanwhile, Democrat MP Jurin Laksanawisit, as the Opposition chief whip, gave an interview before attending the session, saying that more than 40 Opposition MPs will be taking part in the budget debate with the focus on the high cost of living, the public debt window dressing and failing populist programs.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-21

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Bangkok High School Students Stage Hunger Strike in Protest of Enrollment Policy

BANGKOK: -- A number of high school students are staging a hunger strike in front of the Government House in protest of a famed Bangkok highschool's enrollment policy.

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WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ON EAST ASIA

Traffic disruptions likely week as leaders comes to town

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bangkokians should be prepared for disruption in traffic prior and during the upcoming World Economic Forum's East Asian summit, which is scheduled for next week.

Deputy government spokesman Anusorn Aimsa-ard said police have been instructed to inform the public about possible inconvenience during the summit, which takes place from May 30 to June 1.

He said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed the National Police Bureau to explain to the public, who may be affected by motorcades of participants to the WEF on East Asia

On May 31, leaders from many countries will visit Thailand for the meeting, so the motorcades may affect daily life and cause inconvenience.

As the government has not announced it as a public or school holiday, cooperation from the public is requested, he said.

The Foreign Ministry earlier estimated that some 700 people would be attending the meeting.

The presidents of Indonesia and Myanmar as well as the prime ministers of Laos and Bahrain have confirmed they will attend the summit.

Others attendees will include ministers and leading private sector representatives and the international media.

The meeting will focus on creating regional cooperation by adapting Asean's regional connectivity to other regions of the world as well as discussing measures to handle other challenges.

-- The Nation 2012-05-21

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Democrat Party's legal team to meet this week to decide on filing for dissolution of Pheu Thai Party concerning Jatuporn's MP status removal /TAN_Network

Democrat leader Abhisit calls on PM to clarify reconciliation bill; says 2013 Budget Bill should focus on solving high goods' prices /TAN_Network

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Annular eclipse occurs Monday morning

BANGKOK, 21 May 2012 (NNT) - The first solar eclipse of 2012 took place this morning at sunrise. The natural phenomenon lasted 16 minutes and was visible to many parts of Thailand.

With the exception of the South, many parts of Thailand were able to observe the annular eclipse between 05.50-06.06 hours. Residents living in the Northeastern region had the clearest and longest view of the phenomenon. However, the annular eclipse was only partially visible in Thailand given the country's location rests outside the eclipse's path.

The eclipse began in the South of China and moved eastward to Japan, before continuing onto the Pacific Ocean and into the American continent.

An annular solar eclipse occurs during a new moon, when the moon aligns with the Earth and the Sun. Thus, the moon's shadow is cast onto the Earth's surface.

The annular eclipse which occurred this morning is the first to take place this year.

-- NNT 2012-05-21

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All Sectors of Thai Society Urged to Join Forces in Fighting Corruption

BANGKOK:-- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has urged all sectors of Thai society to join forces in fighting corruption, so that the country would move forward with greater stability.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/556157-yingluck-launches-anti-corruption-campaign/page__st__75#entry5319170

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THAI board resolves to terminate employment of president Piyasavasti Amranand; executive vice president Chokchai Panyayong appointed as acting president /MCOT

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Launch of new Phuket incinerator misfires

Phuket Gazette

While the new incinerator is offline, the mounds of trash in the landfill continue to grow. Photo: Gazette file (2010)

PHUKET: -- The long-awaited second incinerator at the Phuket City Municipality facility in Saphan Hin failed to fire correctly during a trial burn this month, dousing the surrounding neighborhood in a foul stench.

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Phuket live wire: Yet more scams – be careful out there!

Phuket Gazette

WATCH IT: 419 scams are the second largest industry in Nigeria worth billions of dollars. Photo: Don Hankins

PHUKET: -- Last February I wrote about a reader who placed an ad in the Gazette, and was strung along by a scammer. The scammer had a long, contrived story that ended with a demand that the person who placed the ad actually send money to the scammer, with threats from PayPal, Western Union and the FBI.

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London Mayor to visit Thailand

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Lord Mayor of the City of London, David Wootton, is heading a senior City business delegation to the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore during May 19-26 as part of efforts to ensure London and the UK remain the Southeast Asia's partner of choice when it comes to financial and professional services.

During the visit, he will meet with senior figures in government, policymakers, investment authorities and business leaders across the three countries. The Lord Mayor, who is the ambassador for UK-based financial and professional services industry, will be joined by leading representatives from the banking, legal and asset management sectors.

He will promote bilateral trade and investment including high value opportunities, increased two-way market access, public-private partnerships (PPP), and English contract law as a basis for international arbitration and dispute resolution.

"Our relationship with the Southeast Asia is hugely important and this longstanding partnership is one that I hope to strengthen during my visit to these three countries. Philippines, Thailand and Singapore are all key strategic partners for the UK and City businesses. We view this relationship very much as one of sharing skills and experiences to grow both our financial sectors by mobilising the two-way flow of capital, knowledge and ideas," Wood said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-21

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Pakistan restores Twitter after ban over 'offensive content' /CNN

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Democrat Seeks Dissolution of Pheu Thai Party

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party' legal team is poised to file a dissolution complaint against the governing Pheu Thai Party, claiming its leader's endorsement for a red-shirt leader whose MP status has been strippd off to contest in last year's election was illegal.

Democrat MP for Songkhla Province, Wirat Kanlayasiri, said Pheu Thai leader Yongyuth Wichaidit violated the Constitution's organic law on political parties for his endorsement of red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan to run in last year's election as its party-list MP candidate.

The Constitution Court last week disqualified Jatuporn as MP given he could not vote in last year's election as he was still in prison at that time.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra maintained her party always abides by the law while declining to comment on the Democrats' move.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-21

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THAI

THAI president Piyasvasti gets golden handshake

The Nation

Piyasvasti

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International's board of directors today announced the termination of the employment contract of Piyasvasti Amranand, who has been serving as president since October, 2009.

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Thai inquest opens for Japanese cameraman

BANGKOK, May 21, 2012 (AFP) - A Thai court on Monday opened an inquest into the death of a Japanese cameraman during a bloody crackdown on "Red Shirt" opposition protests in Bangkok two years ago.

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SET index closed at 1135.16, down 19.28; Bt/USD31.18; GBP49.25; AUD30.64; EUR39.80; CAD30.42; HKD4.01; SGD24.40; JPY39.1

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Archeological site near Phuket used as eco-tourism collateral

Phuket Gazette

Villagers started digging up the beads after fisherman in the area first discovered them. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Though the villagers believe the beads are valuable, they refuse to sell them in hopes of using them as a crux for creating an eco-tourism attraction.

PHUKET: -- Local Krabi villagers, across the bay from Phuket, have ravaged an archaeological site in a mangrove forest in hopes of making it an eco-tourism attraction.

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Thailand's 2011 annual tourism income rises 30%

BANGKOK, May 21 – Despite experiencing major tourism woes, Thailand earned tourism income exceeding Bt770 billion in 2011, an increase of 31 per cent year-on-year, according to Thanitta Savetsila Maneechote, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports.

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Pheu Thai-backed Cadidate Defeated in Udon Thani Poll

UDON THANI: -- The candidate supported by the Pheu Thai Party was defeated by an independent candidate in the Udon Thani mayor election.

According to unofficial tally for the election for the Udon Thani mayor, Itthipol Triwattanasuwan from the Nakhon Makkhaeng Group won more than 29,272 votes, overwhelmingly defeating Sompol Sripattiwong from Nakhon Udon Thani Group, who only got about 19,158 votes.

Itthipol's group swept all 24 municipal council seats.

The Nakhon Makkhaeng Group was supported by Harnchai Theekathananont, former president of the Udon Thani Provincial Administration Organization, or PAO, and also a candidate for new Udon Thani PAO chief.

The Nakhon Udon Thani Group was backed by Pheu Thai MP for Udon Thani Sarawut Petpanomporn and red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana.

In the meantime, unofficial election results for the Nan mayor showed that Surapol Tiensoot from the Muang Nan Na Yoo Group beat Anont Tatrankoon from the Muang Pattana Group.

A total of 10,522 people voted in the election, representing 65 percent of all eligible voters.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-21

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Srinagarind Dam unaffected by quake

KANCHANABURI, May 21- The Srinagarind Dam was not harmed by a mild quake measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale today in Kanchanaburi province, according to a senior official.

Srinagarind dam director Boon-in Chuenchavalit said that the tremor jolted Sai Yok district, with its epicentre about 18km from this major dam in Si Sawat district.

Citing a thorough inspection by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Mr Boon-in explained that earthquake monitoring equipment installed at the dam reported no damage or impacts on the dam’s structure.

Mr Boon-in assured the public that the strength of the Srinagarind Dam was not impaired. It is equipped with a safety system enabling in to ride out such natural incidents. The dam’s structural safety is checked regularly by technical experts and maintained in line with international standards.

In an earthquake-related development, Somboon Kositanon, director of Lampang's Mineral Resources Office Region 1, reported that seven tremors have been recorded in Chiang Mai’s districts of San Sai, Wiang Haeng and Phrao during April and May.

According to the earthquake inspection in the 17 northern provinces, Mr Somboon said that the today’s 2.1 magnitude earthquake was registered as having its epicentre in Phrao district after a 2.5 magnitude earth quake shook the district Sunday night.

The mineral resources official explained that the earthquakes in northern Thailand were attributed to eight active fault zones – the Mae Hong Son, Mae Tha, Mae Ping, Mae Chan, Pua, Thoen, Phayao and the Nan-Uttaradit fault zones. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-05-21

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Japanese Govt to launch multiple entry visa for temporary visits by Thais to boost number of Thai visitors to Japan as of June 1st /The Nation

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Australian man faces death penalty in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: -- A West Australian man is facing the death penalty in Malaysia after being officially charged with drug trafficking.

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Thailand Live Tuesday 22 May 2012